FORTNIGHT CAMPAIGN TO MOBILISE RURAL COMMUNITIES FOR CLEANLINESS AND RESPONSIBLE WASTE MANAGEMENT
CAMPAIGN TO FOSTER PEOPLE PARTICIPATION AND SUSTAINED SANITATION PRACTICES ACROSS PUNJAB
Chandigarh/SAS Nagar, September 17:
The Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS)–2026 campaign was launched today from the Head Office of the Department of Water Supply & Sanitation (DWSS), SAS Nagar, in the presence of Dr. Syed Sehrish Ali Asgar, Mission Director, SBM (G). The fortnight-long campaign will be observed across Punjab from September 17 to October 2, 2026 with a special focus on strengthening cleanliness and sanitation efforts in rural areas through active participation of rural communities.
Being undertaken under the theme “Swachh Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat”, the campaign seeks to translate the spirit of Jan Bhagidari (people participation) into sustained action at the grassroots level. Gram Panchayats, rural households, community groups, youth, women, students, elected representatives and other stakeholders will be encouraged to participate in cleanliness drives and adopt responsible sanitation and waste-management practices.
With its strong rural focus, the campaign aims to deepen community ownership of cleanliness and sanitation. A range of activities will be organised across villages and rural institutions to promote source segregation, proper collection and management of solid and plastic waste, reduction of littering, reuse and recycling, cleanliness of public spaces and regular upkeep of sanitation assets. Communities will also be encouraged to identify local cleanliness challenges and participate in practical solutions to address them.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Syed Sehrish Ali Asgar, Mission Director, SBM (G) asserted to make cleanliness a continuous and community-led effort, saying that the objectives of Swachhata Hi Seva can be strengthened when citizens actively participate in cleanliness activities and take responsibility for maintaining clean surroundings. She encouraged the staff and field functionaries to carry the message of cleanliness to rural communities and promote sustained behavioural change.
As part of the launch programme, Ms. Hritika Ahuja, Project Assistant, SWM/SBMU, PMIDC, organised a technical awareness session for officers and staff. The resource person from PMIDC delivered the lecture on sanitation and waste management with emphasis on systematic waste handling, source segregation and community participation.
Dr. Reena Chadha, General Manager, IPCA addressed the participants and highlighted the importance of four-way segregation with special focus on Plastic Waste Management and recycling of plastic into products. She sensitised the gathering about the environmental concerns associated with improper disposal of plastic waste and stressed the need for reduction, segregation, collection, recycling and responsible disposal. The session also underlined the role of rural communities in preventing plastic litter in villages, public places and water bodies.
Giving a practical dimension to the launch programme, a cleanliness drive was conducted within the office premises. Dr. Syed Sehrish Ali Asgar, Mission Director, SBM (G) actively participated in the cleanliness activity along with the staff, reinforcing the message that cleanliness begins with individual responsibility and collective action.
The programme concluded with the administration of the Swachhata Pledge. Officers and staff collectively reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining cleanliness, preventing littering, adopting responsible waste-management practices and encouraging others to contribute towards a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
THEMATIC ACTIVITIES TO DRIVE JAN BHAGIDARI ACROSS RURAL PUNJAB
Dr. Syed Sehrish Ali Asgar informed that as per the State Implementation Plan for Punjab, the campaign will be implemented through a series of thematic activities aimed at building awareness, participation and sustained cleanliness practices in rural and other public spaces. The major components include transformation of Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs)/Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs), Swachh Paathshala–Yuva for Swachhta, Clean Public Places, Jan Bhagidari Advocacy Drives, SafaiMitra Suraksha Seva Evam Samman Shivir and Swachhata Se Samriddhi, she added.
She said that the key focus of SHS–2026 in Punjab will be active participation of rural communities in cleanliness and sanitation activities. Gram Panchayats and village-level institutions will be encouraged to mobilise residents for Shramdaan, cleanliness of streets and public places, cleaning and upkeep of community sanitation facilities, removal of litter from common areas, protection of water bodies and responsible management of household and plastic waste.
The campaign will also encourage rural youth, women, Self-Help Groups, school students, community volunteers, elected representatives and other local stakeholders to become active participants in village cleanliness activities. Particular attention will be given to sustaining cleanliness after each drive so that the campaign translates into regular practices and lasting behavioural change rather than remaining limited to one-time interventions, she further added.
