'Swacchta' should become social movement: Nadda

Union Health Minister J P Nadda today said 'swacchta' should become a social movement and awareness about cleanliness and sanitation should reach every village of the country.
After offering 'shramdaan' at Safdarjung Hospital as part of 'Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan' on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Nadda also said his ministry has launched Kayakalp initiative to set protocols for hygiene and sanitation in government health facilities.
"'Swacchta' should become a social movement and awareness about cleanliness and sanitation should reach every village of this country," he said.
The Kayakalp initiative for total 'swacchta' in public health facilities is aimed at building the confidence of the users in these, provide quality service and encourage teamwork.

It will encourage every public health facility in the country to work towards attaining the standards of excellence and stay clean and hygienic.
"This does not apply only to physical cleanliness, but to develop and put in place systems and procedures for activities such as bio-waste disposal or protocols," Nadda said.

The Health Minister said Kayakalp awards were given to Central Government Hospitals and District Hospitals from 26 big states.
Under the central government hospital category, the first prize was given to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, while the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi got the second prize.

The third prize was given to North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong.
Nadda also planted a sapling to convey the message of a clean and green India and also took the 'Swacchta pledge' along with the participants and volunteers.
Appreciating the contribution of sanitation staff, he said to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in huge hospitals is a very big challenge.
Cleanliness and sanitation should not be a one-time activity, but a part of our daily life, the Union Health Minister said, adding all hospitals and government health facilities should endeavour to maintain cleanliness and hygiene throughout the year.