Prime Minister’s Office
English rendering of PM’s address at the Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 programme
Posted On: 02 OCT 2024 7:20PM by PIB Delhi
My colleagues in the Union Cabinet, Shri Manohar Lal ji, Shri C.R. Patil ji, Shri Tokhan Sahu ji, Shri Raj Bhushan ji, all other dignitaries, ladies, and gentlemen!
Today is the birth anniversary of Pujya Bapu and Lal Bahadur Shastri ji. I humbly bow to these great sons of Maa Bharti. This day inspires all of us to work together to fulfill the dream that Gandhi ji and the country’s great figures had envisioned for Bharat.
Friends,
On this 2nd of October, I am filled with a sense of duty and also deeply emotional. Today marks 10 years of the Swachh Bharat Mission. This journey of the Swachh Bharat Mission is a symbol of the unwavering commitment of crores of Indians. Over the past 10 years, countless Indians have embraced this mission, made it their own, and incorporated it into their daily lives. On this milestone of 10 years, I extend my heartfelt appreciation and praise to every citizen, our sanitation workers, our religious leaders, our athletes, our celebrities, NGOs, and media friends. You all have together made the Swachh Bharat Mission such a massive public movement. I express my gratitude from the heart to the President, Vice President, former Presidents, and former Vice Presidents, who also contributed to this program by engaging in cleanliness drives, providing immense inspiration to the nation. I extend heartfelt thanks to the President and Vice President for their contributions. Today, cleanliness-related programs are being conducted across the country. People are enthusiastically cleaning their villages, cities, neighborhoods, whether it be chawls, flats, or societies. Many state Chief Ministers, ministers, and other public representatives have also participated and led this program. Over the past fortnight alone, crores of people across the country have participated in cleanliness drives. I have been informed that during the 15 days of the “Seva Pakhwada” (Service Fortnight), more than 27 lakh programs were organized nationwide, with over 28 crore people participating. We can keep Bharat clean only through continuous efforts. I express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every Indian.
Friends,
At this important juncture today, new projects worth around 10,000 crore rupees related to cleanliness have also been launched. Under the AMRUT mission, water and sewage treatment plants will be constructed in many cities across the country. Whether it’s work related to “Namami Gange” or biogas production from waste through “GOBARdhan” plants, these initiatives will elevate the Swachh Bharat Mission to new heights. The more successful the Swachh Bharat Mission is, the brighter our country will shine.
Friends,
Even a thousand years from now, when 21st-century Bharat is studied, the Swachh Bharat campaign will undoubtedly be remembered. Swachh Bharat is the world’s largest and most successful people-led, people-driven public movement of this century. This mission has shown me the energy of the people, whom I regard as divine. For me, cleanliness has become a celebration of the power of the people. I am reminded of so much… When this campaign began, millions of people simultaneously took to cleaning. From weddings to public events, the message of cleanliness was everywhere. While an elderly mother sold her goats to contribute to the construction of toilets, some sold their mangalsutras, while others donated land for the construction of toilets. Some retired teachers donated their pensions, and soldiers dedicated their retirement funds to cleanliness. Had these donations been given to temples or any other event, they would have made headlines in newspapers and been discussed for a week. But the nation must know that those whose faces did not ever appear on TV, whose names were never in the headlines, have made contributions, be it time or wealth, giving this movement new strength and energy. This reflects the character of our nation.
When I spoke about giving up single-use plastic, crores of people started using jute and cloth bags for shopping. I am grateful to them. Otherwise, if I had spoken about banning single-use plastic, those involved in the plastic industry might have protested, gone on hunger strikes… but they didn’t. They cooperated, even at economic loss. I also thank the political parties that perhaps could have protested, claiming Modi has banned single-use plastic, causing unemployment, but they didn’t. I’m thankful their attention didn’t go there, though it might now.
Friends,
Our film industry has also not lagged behind in this movement. Instead of focusing on commercial interests, the industry made films to spread the message of cleanliness. In these 10 years, and I feel this is not a one-time matter, it is a continuous task that needs to be carried out every moment and every day. When I emphasize this, I live by this belief. As you may recall, I have mentioned cleanliness around 800 times in “Mann Ki Baat”. People send lakhs of letters sharing their efforts and dedication to cleanliness.
Friends,
Today, as I witness the achievements of the country and its people, a question arises: Why didn’t this happen earlier? Mahatma Gandhi had shown us the path to cleanliness during the freedom movement. He not only showed us but also taught us. Then why was no attention given to cleanliness after independence? Those who sought power in Gandhi’s name and garnered votes in his name forgot about his favorite topic—cleanliness. They didn’t see the lack of toilets as a problem for the country, as if they had accepted filth as a way of life. As a result, people were forced to live in filth. Filth became a part of routine life. Cleanliness ceased to be discussed. So, when I raised the issue from the Red Fort, it caused a storm. Some mocked me, saying talking about toilets and cleanliness isn’t the job of Bharat’s Prime Minister. They continue to mock me.
But friends,
The first job of the Prime Minister of Bharat is to make life easier for the common people of this country. Understanding my responsibility, I talked about toilets, I talked about sanitary pads. And today, we are seeing the results.
Friends,
Until 10 years ago, over 60 per cent of Bharat’s population was forced to defecate in the open. This was an affront to human dignity. Not only that, it was an insult to the country’s poor, to Dalits, to tribals, to backward communities—an insult that had continued for generations. The lack of toilets caused immense suffering for our sisters and daughters. They had no choice but to endure pain and discomfort, waiting for darkness to relieve themselves, which posed serious risks to their safety. They had to go before sunrise, whether it was cold or it was raining. Crores of mothers in my country went through this ordeal every day. The filth caused by open defecation endangered the lives of our children. It was a major cause of child mortality. Disease outbreaks in villages and slums due to unsanitary conditions were common.
Friends,
How can any country progress in such a situation? That’s why we decided that things cannot continue the way they were. We treated this as a national and humanitarian challenge and launched a campaign to solve it. This is where the seed of the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ (Clean India Mission) was sown. This program, this mission, this movement, this campaign, this effort for public awareness was born from the womb of suffering. And missions born from suffering never die. In no time, crores of Indians achieved great feats. Over 12 crore toilets were built in the country. The toilet coverage, which was less than 40 per cent, has now reached 100 per cent.
Friends,
The impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission on the lives of ordinary citizens of the country has been invaluable. Recently, a study was published in a renowned international journal. This study was conducted by scientists from the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, USA, the University of California, and Ohio State University. It found that the Swachh Bharat Mission has saved the lives of 60,000 to 70,000 children annually. Even if someone donates blood and saves just one life, it is a monumental event. But we, through cleanliness, removing garbage, and eliminating filth, have been able to save the lives of 60,000-70,000 children – what greater blessing from God could there be? According to the WHO, between 2014 and 2019, 300,000 lives were saved that otherwise would have been lost to diarrhea. This has become a duty of human service, my friends.
A report by UNICEF states that more than 90 per cent of women now feel safer due to the construction of toilets at home. The diseases caused by infections in women have also significantly decreased due to the Swachh Bharat Mission. And it doesn’t end there. In thousands of schools, the dropout rate of girls has decreased because separate toilets for girls have been built. Another study by UNICEF shows that, on average, rural families save around 50,000 rupees annually due to cleanliness. Earlier, these funds would have been spent on medical treatments for frequent illnesses or lost due to inability to work because of sickness.
Friends,
Emphasizing cleanliness can save children’s lives, and I want to give you another example. A few years ago, there were constant breaking news reports about hundreds of children dying from encephalitis in Gorakhpur and the surrounding areas. But now, with the departure of filth and the arrival of cleanliness, those reports have also disappeared. See what goes away with the dirt! A major reason for this is the public awareness brought by the Swachh Bharat Mission, and the cleanliness that followed.
Friends,
The increased respect for cleanliness has also brought about a significant psychological shift in the country. I feel it’s important to mention this today. Earlier, people who were associated with cleaning work were seen in a certain light, and we all know how they were viewed. A large section of society considered making a mess their right, and believed it was someone else’s responsibility to clean it up, living with a sense of arrogance while demeaning those who cleaned. But when all of us started participating in cleanliness efforts, even those involved in cleaning felt that the work they were doing was important, and others were also becoming part of their efforts too. This led to a major psychological change. The Swachh Bharat Mission has brought immense respect and dignity to families and sanitation workers, making them feel proud of their contribution. Today, they look at us with a sense of respect. They now take pride in the fact that they are not just working to fill their stomachs, but are also contributing to making the nation shine. The Swachh Bharat Mission has given millions of sanitation workers a sense of pride and dignity. Our government is committed to ensuring the safety of sanitation workers and providing them with a dignified life. We are also working to eliminate the dangers posed by manual entry into septic tanks. The government, private sector, and the public are working together, and many new startups are emerging, bringing new technologies.
Friends,
The Swachh Bharat Mission is not just a program for cleanliness; its scope is expanding widely. It is now paving the way for cleanliness-driven prosperity. The Swachh Bharat Mission has also generated large-scale employment. Over the past few years, the construction of crores of toilets has benefitted many sectors, providing jobs to people. In villages, masons, plumbers, labourers, and many others have found new opportunities. UNICEF estimates that about 1.25 crore people have gained some economic benefit or employment due to this mission. A new generation of female masons is also a product of this campaign. Earlier, we had never heard of female masons, but now you can see women working as masons.
With clean technology, better jobs and opportunities are emerging for our youth. Today, around 5,000 startups are registered in clean tech. In areas such as waste-to-wealth, waste collection and transportation, water reuse, and recycling, many opportunities are being created in the water and sanitation sector. It is estimated that by the end of this decade, 65 lakh new jobs will be created in this sector, and the Swachh Bharat Mission will undoubtedly play a significant role in this.
Friends,
The Swachh Bharat Mission has also given a new boost to the circular economy. We are now producing compost, biogas, electricity, and materials like charcoal for road construction from the waste generated at home. Today, the GOBARdhan Yojana is bringing about major changes in both rural and urban areas. Under this scheme, hundreds of biogas plants are being set up in villages. For farmers engaged in animal husbandry, handling aged livestock can become a financial burden. Now, thanks to the GOBARdhan Yojana, even livestock that no longer produces milk or works on farms can become a source of income. In addition, hundreds of CBG plants have already been set up across the country. Today, several new plants have been inaugurated, and new projects have been initiated.
Friends,
In this rapidly changing time, it is important for us to understand the challenges related to cleanliness. As our economy grows and urbanization increases, the generation of waste will also rise, leading to more garbage. The current “use and throw” model of the economy also contributes to this problem. We will face new types of waste, including electronic waste. Therefore, we must improve our future strategies. We need to develop technologies in construction that make greater use of recyclable materials. Our colonies, housing complexes, and buildings need to be designed in a way that brings us as close to zero waste as possible. If we can bring it to zero waste, it will really be very good.
We must ensure that water is not wasted and that treated wastewater is reused effectively. The Namami Gange project is a model for us. As a result of this initiative, the Ganges River is now much cleaner. The Amrit Mission and Amrit Sarovar campaign are also bringing significant changes. These are powerful models of change brought about by government and public participation. However, I believe this is not enough. We must continue to invest in new technologies for water conservation, water treatment, and cleaning our rivers. We all know how closely cleanliness is linked to tourism. Therefore, we must also keep our tourist destinations, sacred sites, and heritage sites clean.
Friends,
Over the past 10 years, we have achieved a lot in terms of cleanliness. But just as creating waste is a daily routine, maintaining cleanliness should also be a daily habit. No person or creature can say they will never create waste. If waste is inevitable, then cleanliness must be inevitable too. We must continue this work not just for one day or one generation, but for generations to come. When every citizen understands cleanliness as their responsibility and duty, I have faith in the people of this country that change is guaranteed. It is guaranteed that the country is bound to shine.
The mission of cleanliness is not a one-day task but a lifelong practice. We must pass it on from generation to generation. Cleanliness should be a natural instinct for every citizen. It should be part of our daily lives, and we should develop an intolerance toward dirt. We should not tolerate or even see filth around us. Hatred for dirt is what will compel and strengthen us in the pursuit of cleanliness.
We’ve seen how small children in households motivate their elders to keep things clean. Many people tell me that their grandchildren or children often remind them, saying, “Look at what Modi ji said. Why are you littering?” They stop people from throwing a bottle out of the car window. This movement has planted a seed even in them. Therefore, today I would like to tell the youth and the next generation of children: let’s stay committed, let’s continue to explain and encourage others, and let’s unite. We must not stop until the country is clean. The success of the past 10 years shows us that it is possible, we can achieve it, and we can save Mother India from dirt.
Friends,
Today, I would also like to urge state governments to take this campaign to the district, block, village, neighborhood, and street levels. We should have competitions for clean schools, clean hospitals, clean offices, clean neighbourhoods, clean ponds, and clean wells in different districts and blocks. This will create a competitive environment, and rewards and certificates should be given on a monthly or quarterly basis. It’s not enough for the Indian government to simply declare 2-4 cities as clean or 2-4 districts as clean. We need to take this to every area. Our municipalities should continuously ensure that public toilets are well-maintained, and we should reward them for it. There is nothing worse than systems returning to old ways. I would like to urge all local bodies to prioritize cleanliness and make it their top priority.
Let us all take a pledge together. I make a request to my fellow citizens to make a commitment: wherever we are—whether at home, in our neighborhood, or at our workplace—we will not create filth, nor will we tolerate it. Let cleanliness become our natural habit. Just as we keep our places of worship clean, we must develop the same sentiment toward our surroundings. Every effort we make on the journey to a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) will strengthen the mantra of “cleanliness leads to prosperity.” Once again, I extend my best wishes to all of you. With renewed enthusiasm and confidence, let us move forward and offer a true tribute to Pujya Bapu by taking a pledge not to create waste, doing whatever we can for cleanliness, and never backing down from our responsibility. I wish you all the best.
Thank you very much.
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