“On the 2nd of October, the Swachh Bharat Mission is completing 10 years. This is an occasion to commend those who turned it into such a big mass movement in Indian history. It is also a befitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi” — Narendra Modi
In a small corner of a bustling town, a group of residents gathers at dawn, brooms in hand, determined to make a difference. This scene is now familiar across India as the Swachhta hi Seva (SHS) campaign spread through the nation. Launched under the theme Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskaar Swachhata (4S), the 2024 campaign has brought people together, urging them to take charge of their surroundings and work towards a cleaner, healthier country.
On the occasion of the 155th Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October 2024, the Swachh Bharat Diwas will mark the conclusion of the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2024 campaign. To commemorate this, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil, has urged citizens to participate in ‘Shramdaan for Swachhata’ between 9 and 10 am on 2nd October, contributing to the cleanliness efforts under the SHS campaign.
The SHS campaign, running from September 17 to October 2, 2024, focused on three key pillars: reviving neglected areas, encouraging public participation, and improving the welfare of sanitation workers. It culminates in the celebration of Swachh Bharat Diwas on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. From streets and markets to parks and waterways, communities are coming together to clean, restore, and embrace the spirit of collective action. Through small yet meaningful steps, the SHS campaign reminds us all that cleanliness is not just a task but a shared duty, a way of life that impacts the health and dignity of everyone.
Swachh Bharat Diwas 2024
On October 2, 2024, marking the completion of 10 years since the launch of one of the most significant mass movements for cleanliness—the Swachh Bharat Mission—Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will participate in the Swachh Bharat Diwas 2024 program at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, at around 10 AM, coinciding with the 155th Gandhi Jayanti.
During the program, the Prime Minister will launch and lay the foundation stone for several projects related to sanitation and cleanliness, with a total worth exceeding Rs 9,600 crore. This includes over Rs 6,800 crore aimed at enhancing urban water and sewage systems under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0. Additionally, there will be 10 projects worth over Rs 1,550 crore focused on improving water quality and waste management in Ganga basin areas under the National Mission for Clean Ganga. Furthermore, 15 Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant projects worth over Rs 1,332 crore will be initiated under the GOBARdhan Scheme.
On the same day, several special initiatives will also take place, including special Gram Sabhas for Swachhata, celebrations of transformed Community Toilet Units (CTUs), and the felicitation of Safai Mitras and other state champions. Awards will be presented to the best performers of the Swachhta Hi Seva 2024 campaign, along with the inauguration and foundation of community toilets, public toilets, solid waste management projects, sewage treatment plants, faecal sludge treatment plants, and other related initiatives.
Campaign Overview
On August 15, 2014, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi delivered a powerful message from the ramparts of the Red Fort, calling for cleanliness to become a national priority and urging citizens to join in this mission. This led to the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission on 2nd October 2014, which embraced a ‘whole-of-government’ approach to make sanitation the responsibility of all. The nation united to create the world’s largest movement for cleanliness.
Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) is a pivotal campaign under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017. This campaign is a significant annual event aimed at mobilizing the citizens of India towards enhanced cleanliness and sanitation. The initiative underscores the essence of civic participation in fostering a cleaner, healthier environment across the nation. Conceptualized as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary, SHS aims to galvanize widespread engagement in the Swachh Bharat Mission. Over the years, the campaign has evolved significantly, each year focusing on a specific theme to address various aspects of cleanliness and sanitation.
Since 2017, the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign has promoted volunteerism and collective action for cleanliness. This year is particularly significant as the Government of India marks the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The Swachhata Hi Seva campaign 2024, observed from 17 September to 1 October, is themed “Swabhav Swachhata, Sanskaar Swachhata,” culminating in the celebration of Swachh Bharat Diwas on 2 October. The campaign emphasizes three core objectives: transforming neglected areas with health and hygiene risks, encouraging active public participation in cleanliness activities, and improving the welfare of sanitation workers. The campaign aims to foster a cleaner, healthier India for all through these initiatives.
Pillars of SHS 2024
Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs): A Cleanliness Target Unit (CTU) refers to severely neglected, high-risk areas like garbage points or dumpsites that pose significant environmental and health risks, often overlooked during routine cleanliness drives in various regions. The campaign aims to transform these target units in a time-bound manner, contributing to the broader goal of achieving overall cleanliness.
Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs: Single-window health and welfare camps for Safai Mitras for preventive health care treatment and linkages with various welfare schemes of Central and State Government
Swachhata Mein Jan Bhaagidari: Widespread engagement with citizens, communities, and organisations to raise awareness and trigger involvement through various activities.
Key Achievements
The Swachhta hi Seva campaign achieved remarkable milestones during its nationwide cleanliness drive, engaging millions of citizens in collective action. Focusing on transforming neglected areas and fostering public participation, the campaign saw extensive efforts across various sectors, from residential areas to market spaces and roadsides. These efforts were further complemented by environmental initiatives such as mass tree plantation and widespread Swachhata pledges, making the campaign a significant step toward a cleaner and healthier India.
