All government employees will have to be present in office on October 2, Gandhi Jayanthi, the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 'clean India' campaign, and take the cleanliness pledge, a directive issued by the Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth on Wednesday said. The employees will be administered 'Swachhata Shapath' (pledge of cleanliness) in government offices, public functions and events on October 2, the directive said. The cleanliness drives led by senior officials will be undertaken in all government and public offices, it said.
The Centre had earlier declared October 2 (Mahatma Gandhi's birthday) as compulsory holiday. The Prime Minister will on October 2 launch 'clean India' campaign, aimed at cleaning the country. There will be a special cleanliness drive in government offices from Thursday till October 2 to get rid of clutter, garbage and weed out old and unwanted things from government office premises, the directive said.
Modi had on August 15 announced the launch of the campaign.
"I come from a poor family, I have seen poverty. The poor need respect and it begins with cleanliness. I, therefore, have to launch a 'clean India' campaign from October 2 this year and carry it forward in four years," Modi had said in his speech on Independence Day from the Red Fort. The Cabinet Secretary had earlier also written to secretaries of central government departments pressing the need for clean working spaces.
"There are certain offices where construction material is lying for years. In some office premises, unused or junked vehicles are also parked. The departments have already been asked to make sure that no clutter, unused vehicles, rubbles or building material are lying in the office premises," a Personnel Ministry official said. There may be surprise inspections to ensure the effectiveness of cleanliness drive, he said.
Senior officials have sprung into action and instructed their concerned supervisors to ensure that the office premises are clean.
