Cleaning up the act

Last September, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had asked all departmental canteens, that is, canteens of ministries and government departments, to carry out routine cleanliness drives as part of the Prime Minister's Swachh Bharat, or Clean India, campaign. They were supposed to undertake cleanliness drives at least once a month and furnish a report. Another circular, dated February 13, pointed out that only a few departments had furnished reports. Now, the DoPT has specified that a cleanliness campaign should be undertaken on the 15th of every month. It has also asked resident welfare associations in areas where central government employees reside to frame "annual action plans" and appraise the DoPT about their achievements on this front when applying for grants in aid.