Design of 10-14 year kids selected for Swachh Bharat stamp

Government today released postal stamps on Swachh Bharat Mission that were designed by kids in the age group of 10-14 years, who have been awarded for their winning entries.
As a part of Swachh Bharat Mission, Department of Posts had organised a nation-wide competition inviting entries for designing the commemorative postage stamps of denominations of Rs 25 and Rs 5 and a miniature sheet.
"Postal department has worked as per the will of the Prime Minister that whenever we have to issue commemorative stamp or any other work we should look at opinion of people. I am obliged to kids who have suggested these idea. We will facilitate these kids whenever we get opportunity on other occasion," Communications Minister Manoj Sinha today said.

He was speaking after jointly releasing the stamp, miniature sheet, First Day Cover and brochure on Swachh Bharat Mission theme with Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
First prize of Rs 10,000 went to 12 year old Binita Biswajeeta, second prize of Rs 6,000 to 10 year old Sanjula S and third prize of Rs 4,000 to 14 year old Arushi Agarwal.
Sinha said that Swachh Bharat campaign has successfully completed 2 years and now there are 1 lakh villages in this country where no one is going for open defecation.

"Due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi there has been change in mindset of people across country. In 1901, Bapu in Congress Summit said that there is need to give push to this mission and it is more important than freedom. The mission initiated by Bapu gave inspiration to people. I think that inspiration was losing momentum which has been rejuvenated by the Prime Minister," Sinha said.

He said that the mission has now become people's movement.
"We have heard that young women have refused to marry if there are no toilets at home. The kind of news we hear around the mission are inspirational," Sinha said.
Naidu said that people across country are joining the campaign and there is need to change mindset of people to accelerate it.
"Some people think that they know everything about cleanliness. I agree but many don't think about their neighbourhood, temple, mosque, church etc. Everyone has to come together for development of nation. Money is not enough for progress but people need to change mindset," Naidu said.

He said that central government, state government, panchayat everyone has to work together as Team India.
"You have to be clean from mind, body and money. You may heard about money becoming clean yesterday. Borders are also now becoming comparatively cleaner," Naidu said.
He cited example of a Muslim lady in Guntur has gifted a toilet to her daughter-in-law, a 14 year girl in Karnataka going on hunger strike to get toilet built in all 70-80 in her village as encouraging sign of people getting involved in the Swachh Bharat campaign.