*Governor flags off “स्वच्छता मार्च” under ‘Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao’ initiative under SBM-U 2.0*
*Municipal Corporation & Chandigarh Administration to jointly carry out month long campaign to mitigate health risks during monsoon*
*Chandigarh, July 1:-* Aiming to fortify preparedness and ensure the readiness for the approaching monsoon and health challenges during the period, Sh. Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT Chandigarh today flagged off the ‘Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao’ campaign with the “स्वच्छता मार्च” from Punjab Raj Bhawan, Sector 6, Chandigarh in the presence of Sh. Rajeev Verma, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, MC Commissioner and other senior officers of Chandigarh Administration and MCC.
After flagging off the campaign, the Governor commended the collective and intersectoral efforts to bolster infrastructure, implement robust hygiene practices, and foster community engagement to mitigate the risks posed by the monsoon season. He assured that this collective effort under the ‘Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao’ initiative would be a success.
While speaking on the occasion, Sh. Rajeev Verma, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator said that the ‘Safai Apnao, Bimaari Bhagao’ initiative has been introduced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, through the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, and will be implemented from July 1 to August 31, 2024.
The “स्वच्छता मार्च” was led by students, along with doctors marking National Doctor’s Day, civic body teams, Safaimitras, sanitation staff, and machinery like mobile testing units, mobile Anganwadi units, fogging machines, sewer cleaning machinery, waste collection vehicles, and mechanical road sweepers etc.
Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, MC Commissioner outlined the key elements of the initiative, which include various activities such as special cleanliness drives, regular cleaning of community and public toilets, collection and transportation of waste, sanitation and hygiene facilities for children, adequate testing of water quality, supply of drinking water, and maintenance of water works.
She highlighted Chandigarh’s rise from the 66th rank in Swachh Sarvekshan 2021 to the 12th rank in 2022, and further aiming to make Chandigarh a contender for the top positions in Swachh Survekshan-2024, emphasizing the city’s dedication to cleanliness and sustainability. She urged citizens to continue their efforts towards making Chandigarh a cleaner and healthier city. The campaign aims to raise awareness among citizens and instill a sense of ownership regarding the environment, their surroundings, and community health. The focus will be on community involvement and public awareness, community engagement and education, rainwater harvesting, and post-monsoon maintenance planning & integration.
Sh. Vinay Pratap, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Senior Deputy Mayor Sh.Kuljeet Sandhu, Deputy Mayor Sh. Rajinder Sharma and other senior officials from the Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation were also present during the campaign launch.
