Swachh Bharat Archives - Lokmarg

Just Clicking Pictures, Not Enough: Rama Rao Hits Out At Swachh Bharat Mission

By LokMarg 2nd October 2023

Telangana Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR), while participating in the launch of silt carting vehicles under the Dalit Bandhu scheme in Hyderabad, hit out at the Swachh Bharat Mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

BRS Minister KTR said, “On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, today some leaders are sitting in Delhi and giving slogans of Swachh Bharat, Swachh this and Swachh that. But there won’t be much work related to it. There will be only programs for clicking pictures and remembering Gandhiji here and there for namesake.”

“However, keeping Gandhi’s views of Swachta in mind, we have taken up Swachh Telangana,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier on Friday called upon people across the country to take part in a cleanliness drive on October 1 beginning at 10 am and said that Swachh Bharat is a shared responsibility, and every effort counts.

The Prime Minister himself also participated in the Swach Bharat campaign and met social media sensation Ankit Baiyanpuriya, who had started a 75-day hard challenge to imbibe the culture of fitness among the youth.

They discussed fitness and cleanliness as they participated in the Swachh Bharat initiative, a video released by PM Modi on his X timeline showed.

“Today, as the nation focuses on Swachhata, Ankit Baiyanpuriya and I did the same! Beyond just cleanliness, we blended fitness and well-being also into the mix. It is all about that Swachh and Swasth Bharat vibe!” the video captioned.

PM Modi said Swachh Bharat is the collective responsibility of all citizens of the country and that public participation is very important in this direction. He had asked everyone to take an hour on Sunday at 10 am to maintain cleanliness and help build a brighter future for the country.

Leaders from across the country took part in the ‘Shramdaan for Cleanliness’ program as part of the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign on October 1. (ANI)

Modi Blends Swachh Bharat Campaign With Good Health

By LokMarg 1st October 2023

As people across the nation took time to take part in a cleanliness drive on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated in the Swachh Bharat campaign. His one was special as he blended cleanliness with fitness.

Prime Minister Modi met social media sensation Ankit Baiyanpuriya, who had started a 75-day hard challenge to imbibe the culture of fitness among the youth.

They discussed fitness and cleanliness as they participated in the Swachh Bharat initiative, a video released by PM Modi on his X timeline showed.

Ankit has garnered 4.9 million followers on his Instagram profile.

The video starts with PM Modi saying Ankit “I will learn something from you today.” How will Swachhata Abhiyan help fitness, PM Modi asked Ankit.

“Keeping the environment clean is our duty. If the environment remains healthy then we too will,” Ankit replied to PM Modi.

PM Modi also asked how was the awareness regarding cleanliness back in his village in Sonipat. He says people are more aware now towards cleanliness.

PM Modi has said Swachh Bharat is the collective responsibility of all citizens of the country and that public participation is very important in this direction. He had asked everyone to take out an hour on Sunday at 10 am to maintain cleanliness and help build a brighter future for the country.

In the video which lasted 281 seconds, PM Modi went on to ask Ankit how much time he dedicated towards physical activities, to which he said 4-5 hours.

“I get motivated seeing you exercise,” Ankit told PM Modi. PM Modi then says “I don’t do much exercise. I do sufficient exercise that is needed to accomplish my day-to-day activities.”

“I follow discipline. There are two aspects of my life where I am not disciplined. One, the timing of meal. Second, I should give more time on sleep but I am unable to,” PM Modi continued.

PM Modi praised Ankit and said he noticed many youths are following his activities on social media. Ankit also praised PM Modi for promoting sports and standing with the sportpersons.

“I was a sportsperson but I am away from sports now due to some injury. I saw you personally calling sportspersons when they win medals. Fit India and Khelo India initiatives are motivating athletes,” Ankit said.

Finally, PM Modi asked Ankit what was his 75-day challenge.

“I follow five rules. First, I workout two times a day, one indoor and other outdoor. Both outdoor is also fine. Next, I drink four litres of water. Read 10 pages of any book. First, I studied Srimad Bhagavat, now I am reading Shiva Puran. Fourth, I follow a strict diet. Lastly, I take a selfie to document the progression in me,” Ankit said.

As per reports, Ankit Baiyanpuria started his 75-hard challenge on June 28, 2023, and finally completed this gruelling challenge on September 11, 2023. He used to put an Instagram video each day during the course of his 75-day challenge. (ANI)

‘Swachh Bharat Toilets Called Izzat-ghar’

By LokMarg Publishing 23rd July 2019

Rajender Sharma, 46, a farmer from Banwariwas in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, says that toilets made under Swachh Bharat scheme are called ‘Izzat-ghar’ (house of honour) in his village as they provide the residents comfort and privacy

When people in my village had to relieve themselves, going out to the fields was the most obvious choice. After all, this had been going on for so long that it was somewhat a tradition. Some village elders had never been to a toilet their entire lives. But last year, things changed.

All those who did not have a toilet, received a grant of ₹12,000 under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for constructing toilets inside the premises of our residence. The toilets are called, ‘Izzat-ghar’ (house of honour).

There are about 1,000 houses in the Banwariwas village. Only a handful had a toilet prior to 2018. I still remember when the first toilet was constructed, under the Swachh Bharat scheme, many villagers came to have a look. The name Izzat-ghar which was scribbled above the door of the toilet. This prompted many villagers to apply for the scheme. Soon after, I think within a span of three-four months, all those who did not have a toilet, applied for it and got their toilets made.

In the beginning, the elderly people still preferred to go out to the fields to attend nature’s call. They later came to realise the benefits of a toilet. The toilets provided them shelter from rain, cold and heat and so they were forced to shun the age-old habit of going out to the fields.

Women of the village are the ones, who are really happy with the initiative. Earlier, they went out to the fields in groups, in the wee hours of the morning, away from prying eyes, to relieve themselves. But izzat-ghars have provided them with the privacy and comfort that they had been denied for long. Young boys and girls too, can now walk with their heads held high as they don’t need to go in the fields anymore. These toilets have helped us shape their future.

The primary source of income in the village is farming. Since farming is not a very profitable business, most of the villagers could not afford to construct toilets.

The Swachh Bharat Initiative made an impossible dream possible. And making dreams possible is fairly simple. All one has to do is contact the local pradhan, MLA or block development officer with an application. Our MLA, Thakur Dhirdendra Singh had helped us in getting the grants for toilet. The government doesn’t make toilets, it provides grant of ₹12,000 to the applicants. The applicants will have to construct the toilet with this fund by hiring a mason and labourers. If one wishes to construct an attached bath, one just needs to put in money from his/her own pocket.

We are grateful to the government for the initiative.

#MyVote2019 – ‘I Have Full Faith In Modi’

By LokMarg Publishing 26th January 2019

The Modi government’s Swachha Bharat campaign has worked, at least in my mohalla at Tiwari Chowk in Deoghar. There has been a marked difference in the way the waste is managed here now. Earlier, garbage would be left on the roadsides to rot and would be picked up after a gap of many, many days. But now, the municipality workers come every day at a fixed time to pick up the garbage.

The street lights here are working and the women in my family feel safe to venture outside at night. I’m a shop-owner and I was pretty inconvenienced by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) when it was introduced. I suffered losses in the beginning because nobody was really able to understand the sudden rise in the prices of goods, the new billing invoices etc. But the sales tax officer of our area turned out to be a saviour.

He helped all the shop owners in my area get acquainted with the process. In turn, we were able to explain the new tax structure to our customers. I am a happy man now and have no regrets about voting for Modiji. He wishes the good for the country and his actions mean business. Detractors often argue about the ‘disastrous demonetisation’ but I believe the decision was a step in the right direction. People will now think twice before hoarding money. I am not going to get into the other details of demonetization because, frankly, it is a vast topic and I am not really an expert.

Petrol prices of late have definitely been bothersome. But I do not let that bother me. I like how Modiji is leading the country and would want him to continue. I don’t hate the leaders of the Opposition parties, but you can say that I love Modiji’s personality more. He has the qualities of a true leader. I sometimes wish I could be as decisive as he is. Rahul Gandhi, I feel, still has a long way to go before he can even think of leading the country. His heart is in the right place, but he lacks the spark.

#MyVote2019 – 'Modi Is Good, Quota Isn't'

By LokMarg Publishing 17th January 2019

Modi ji ke aane se fayda to hua hai (Narendra Modi has been beneficial for the country). The thing that has impressed me the most is his dedication towards a cleaner India. Many youngsters like me think twice before littering and I have seen government offices taking cleanliness more seriously as well.

Such campaigns appeal to a civilised citizen. Besides, work is getting done now. In my native state, Uttarakhand, there have been commendable infrastructural activity. The work on the all-weather road connecting the famous chhota chaar dham, namely Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, is on in full flow. Earlier, the roads used to be in a poor condition in many areas in Uttarakhand, especially during monsoons, but the connectivity is much better these days.

Of late, many people are talking about the Modi government’s decision to allocate 10% reservation for the economically weaker sections among the upper castes. It doesn’t impact me since I am not a government job aspirant and I already have a job. Frankly, I don’t believe in quota system in employment. Getting a job is about how much drive, confidence and sincerity you have in yourself.

Reservation or not, those who have the drive will carve a successful career. I do understand that there are remote areas where people don’t get the opportunity for equal education. That part of reservation policy is fine but it has to stop after a point. On a personal levels, many of Modiji’s decisions that people criticise didn’t affect me directly. I didn’t suffer during demonetisation, though it was tough to see many others stand in long queues.

The rise in petrol prices hasn’t affected me much since I don’t have a private vehicle and always travel by public transport. In fact more people have started using public transport, as I see the vehicles getting more crowded. But isn’t that a good thing? Thus, I believe Modiji is currently the best bet we have for a Prime Minister. I don’t see any other leader in close competition.

Mujhe nahi lagta ki Rahul Gandhi me PM waali quality hai (I do not think Rahul Gandhi has the virtues to become prime minister of India). Every time I have heard him speak, his focus has been more on what the government has done wrong. He is silent on what his remedy is. He should also speak about what his party will do when it comes to power.

Mere hisab se unhe abhi bahut kuch sikhne ki jarurat hai (He needs to learn a lot). So, overall, I want Modiji to come back to power in 2019. There may be many things that need to be changed about his governance style but I think he has done a good job so far in his current term as the leader of the nation.