Ministries asked to draw action plan for Clean India Mission

Taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Clean India Mission a step forward and to achieve total sanitation by October 2, 2019, the Centre has asked all ministries to implement a fortnight-long action plan every year to highlight their contribution to the initiative.
Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha recently wrote to all secretaries of central government ministries, telling them the "range, intensity and visibility" of Clean India Mission related activities needed to be increased significantly.
"It is therefore desired that each ministry draws out and implements at least a fortnight-long action plan every year to bring into focus the contribution of the ministry towards Swachh Bharat Mission and also to carry out substantive work related to Swachhta (cleanliness)," Sinha said.

The action plan can be based on the ministry's areas of responsibility and may include innovative practices, media campaigns, workshops, award functions etc, he said.
"Ministries or departments, especially those managing or connected with public amenities may, however, carry out these campaigns for periods longer than a fortnight," the Cabinet Secretary said.
A draft calender assigning theme-wise fortnights or 'Pakhwadas' for all ministries has been chalked out. "During these campaigns, focus should be on reaching out to the community or citizen. An intensive buzz would need to be created around the activities undertaken by the ministry or department by effective use of mass media as well as social media," reads the letter.

Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on October 2, 2014 to achieve total sanitation and cleanliness by the same date in 2019.

"All ministries, departments and States need to make their utmost efforts for mobilising people's participation and to ensure that the Mission truly becomes a citizen's movement," Sinha said.
In the past, each ministry carried out various activities relating to the mission such as weeding out of files and cleaning of office premises and establishments under them. However, the range, intensity and visibility of these activities need to increase significantly, said the letter written by country's top bureaucrat seeking renewed efforts to ensure total cleanliness.

The calender of 'Swachhta Pakhwadas' has begun from April 1, 2016.
Ministries have been asked to choose their own theme and any fortnight, particularly around the days having special significance for them, while finalising their action plan.
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, which is the nodal ministry for Swachh Bharat Mission, has been tasked with consolidating the information and finalise the annual calender for the Swachhta Pakhwadas.