Swachhta Mission a 'mass movement', world has acknowledged it: Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Saturday said the whole "world has acknowledged" the Swachhta Mission which has become a "mass movement", an official statement said.

Rijiju was speaking at a "Swachhta Hi Seva" programme at Connaught Place in the heart of the national capital.

According to the statement, Rijiju, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, said "India is a great (country) but its greatness depends upon the cleanliness, which brings progress and improvement in all spheres of life of the citizens".

The minister also administered the Swachhta pledge to the participants at the event.

"Now, the Swachhta Mission has become a mass movement, which was not witnessed in post and pre-Independent India... The whole world has acknowledged the initiative of Swachhta Mission," the statement quoted Rijiju as having said.

Rijiju exhorted students to come forward to disseminate the message of Swachhta Mission to the people and also inculcate a habit to clean their houses, surroundings and even class rooms.

He also inaugurated an organic waste converter and a smart public toilet utility (PTU) in Janpath by remote control and flagged off a cycle rally.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the "Swachhata Hi Seva" campaign on Saturday. The "cleanliness is service" campaign will continue till Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2.