Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra, Dedicates It To Mahatma Gandhi's Efforts Towards Cleanliness

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra in New Delhi on August 8, said that the Swachh Bharat Mission has been a big support in the fight against coronavirus, has brought permanent change in India and has greatly benefited the poor. "The challenges were many- from triggering a behavioural shift to making toilets accessible to more than 55 crore Indians in just a span of 5 years," said PM Modi.

'After Open Defecation Free (ODF), let us now move towards ODF Plus. Special focus should be given on Solid and Liquid Waste Management and work towards ‘Waste to Wealth' initiatives should continue.' PM Modi urged everyone. PM Modi also launched one-week cleanliness campaign till August 15 for a garbage-free India. Referencing the 1942 Quit India movement, he said that there has been an ongoing ‘Bharat Chhodo' mission in the country for the past six years, against the use of plastic, corruption, terrorism and for the promotion of cleanliness.

Prime Minister Modi toured the Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra and watched a short video on ‘Swachh Bharat Mission' at the Kendra's 360 degree revolving theatre. The video captured the incredible 5-year journey of the Swachh Bharat Mission and captured the challenges of a time period when people struggled due to no access to toilets.

After touring the Kendra, Prime Minister Modi interacted with 36 school students dressed in traditional attire, representing the 36 states and union territories, at the amphitheatre. The school children got the opportunity to discuss various attraction points of the Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra. Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction that the children were following social distancing norms and wearing masks at the event, and advised them to continue doing so to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra was first announced by the Prime Minister on April 10, 2017, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of Gandhiji's Champaran ‘satyagraha'. As per a statement by the Press Information bureau, the installations at the Kendra will introduce the future generations to the successful journey of the world's largest behaviour change campaign, the Swachh Bharat Mission.