“The obligation of the government is to protect the public health, safety, morals and general welfare.” – Allan Wolf
On 2nd Oct 2014, when the country was celebrating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, PM Narendra Modi launched a national campaign “Swacch Bharat Abhiyan” with an aim to make India completely clean by the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (2nd Oct 2019). “Clean India” was a dream of Bapu who advocated cleanliness and sanitation to be an essential part of the healthy and peaceful nation. The campaign urged people to spend at least 100 hours every year to make their surroundings clean.
It is a matter of shame for our country that after 70 years of independence and emerging as the 7th biggest economy in the world we still cannot provide toilets to everyone, so, a campaign like “Swacch Bharat” is need of the hour.
The primary objectives of the campaign are the elimination of open defection and establishment of toilets for everyone, spreading awareness about methods of personal hygiene and healthy sanitation, proper waste disposal, recycling of waste etc. The creation of toilets for everyone is estimated to cost about 1.4 lakh crore, so the government has imposed a Swacch Bharat cess of about 0.5 % on all services. The Government has also tried to connect to the common man by spreading the idea through mass media and icons such as Amitabh Bachchan promoting it.
PM’s push has awakened India and will have its results in the long term. Efforts of Governments and Citizens in this direction have started showing results. Schools have become proactive and so are the people of the country. Cleanliness is essential for physical, social, mental and intellectual well- being, and is the responsibility of not only Government but also a common man to make our country clean and green as it is said that “Cleanliness is Godliness”.
Written By: Astha Krishna
Image Sources: Pinterest, Google Images
