Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2024 campaign kick starts, celebrating 10 Years of Transformative Cleanliness

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), proudly announces the official launch of Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2024. It is a nationwide cleanliness campaign that reaffirms the commitment to a cleaner and healthier India. This year’s campaign, themed ‘Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskar Swachhata’, builds upon a decade of transformative work under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), which has fundamentally reshaped the sanitation landscape of India since its inception in 2014. This campaign will see citizens across the country engaged in mass cleanliness drives, public awareness campaigns, and a collective push for a cleaner environment. The DDWS alone has planned over 9.2 lakh rural events across all states/UTs with 4.9 lakh Swachhata Mein Bhagidari events and 3.74 lakh CTUs and 61,638 SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivirs.

The campaign, commencing today, saw a plethora of events across the country. In Rajasthan, Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, kick started the National launch activities along with Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, and Shri Avinash Gahlot, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Rajasthan in Jhunjhunu. The state launch in Karnataka was done by Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri V. Somanna and in eight States, the launch events were conducted by the Chief Ministers and other senior dignitaries. Apart from this State launches were conducted in all States/UTs by various dignitaries. Key Components of SHS 2024:

• The SHS 2024 campaign focuses on the Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs), which will transform over 6 lakh difficult and dirty spots across India, identified so far through a mapping portal. Various stakeholders, including public sector units (PSUs), industry partners, and NGOs, are encouraged to adopt these CTUs for time-bound remediation and cleanliness efforts.
• Public Participation: Over 6.5 lakh events have been scheduled across Ministries, Departments, and State Governments under the theme of Swachhata Mein Jan Bhagidari. These events aim to engage citizens in meaningful awareness and Jan Bhagidaari activities across urban and rural areas. A ‘Whole-of-Society Approach’ underpins this year’s campaign, bringing together citizens, industries, urban local bodies, NGOs, panchayats, and various other stakeholders. This collaborative effort ensures that every corner of India is touched by the SHS movement.
• Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs: Over 80,000 camps will provide sanitation workers with health checkups, safety gear, and access to social security schemes, ensuring their welfare and safety in the process.

While inaugurating the 8^th India Water Week (IWW) 2024 in New Delhi today, President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu remarked that the international conference on water was an apt stage for insightful discussions on sustainable WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) management and strengthening global partnerships in this increasingly important and crucial sector.

Reflecting on the ten years of impactful sanitation work at the IWW 2024, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Paatil, during the national launch of the International WASH conference remarked, “the Swachh Bharat Mission has become a Jan Andolan for behaviour change and is now globally recognized as a powerful intervention for reducing infant mortality, preventing disease, and enhancing livelihoods. Since its launch in 2014, SBM has dramatically improved access to sanitation and clean water, with over 11.6 crore toilets constructed to date ensuring that India remains Open Defecation Free. This is carried forward in Phase II of the programme with a focus on ODF sustainability, provision of solid and liquid waste management arrangements and emphasis on visual cleanliness in India’s rural villages. It is a tribute to the efforts of the States/UTs that as on date, 50% of India’s villages are ODF Plus Model”.  The Minister further emphasized, “Cleanliness is not the responsibility of a single entity; it is a collective duty of every individual and every institution. Through this approach, we are ensuring that Swabhav Swachhata becomes part of the national ethos, a value that is ingrained in the way we live.”

In her opening remarks, Smt. Vini Mahajan, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, spoke on the SHS campaign that marks 10 years of the call to action by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, which has always been inspiring as the entire nation comes together for this cause. The commitment of our citizens, industries, and government bodies towards maintaining cleanliness as a way of life is what will drive the next wave of transformation in our mission, she said.

Since its launch by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2014, SBM has seen monumental success, including:

• ODF Plus Model Villages: Over 2.95 lakh (50%) ODF Plus Model declared villages across rural India.
• Public Participation: Cleanliness drives, public rallies, and marathons have become part of the public consciousness, helping to entrench the values of cleanliness in communities across the country.

The campaign will culminate in large-scale Swachh Bharat Diwas celebrations on 2^nd October, with various ministries and organizations participating in cleanup activities, cultural events, and public advocacy. For more information and participation details, citizens are encouraged to visit the official SHS 2024 portal www.swachhatahiseva.gov.in