SHS 2019 at SIPs gathers huge momentum

This year’s Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) campaign has gathered huge momentum, bringing large number of people out onto the streets to contribute to the nationwide shramdaan for plastic waste collection and segregation. From issuing ban on single use plastics, to taking out rallies and oaths; mass awareness generation activities to cleaning of public spaces, districts have pitched in to contribute to making plastic waste free.

Under the Swachh Iconic Places (SIP) initiative, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal , had issued notifications to Chief Secretaries of States and Public Sector Undertakings who have extended support to the initiative to ensure hygiene and sanitation in the iconic places as CSR (corporate social responsibility); to participate in the SHS campaign on 18th September.

In keeping with this notification, several iconic places carried out large scale activities to build awareness and for collection of plastic waste. They worked in partnership with district administrations, schools and colleges, NGOs and civil society, their focus centred on banning the sale and use of single use plastics (SUP).

Pangong Lake:

Plastic shramdaan cum awareness camp was held at the iconic site of Pangong Lake when waste was collected and segregated at the designated segregation centre. The activity was organized by the District Administration of Leh with the participation of volunteers and district officials.

Kamakhya Devalaya, Guwahati:

An SHS event was organized by the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin team and the Kamkhya Temple Management Board with support from Oil India Limited as CSR Partner. During the event, a Plastic waste shramdaan was carried out.

Vishnupad Mandir Parisar, Gaya: The dangers of using single use plastic was the focus of the awareness activities at Vishnupad Mandir Parisar in Gaya. The programme was led by Sri Sawan Kumar, Municipal Commissioner, Gaya Municipal Corporation and supported by Indian Oil Corporation Limited as CSR partner.

Baidyanath Temple, , : Swachhata Hi Seva was at organized , Deoghar of Jharkhand by the District Collector. The event was supported by the Power Grid Corporation of India as CSR partner.

Vaishno Devi Temple: which recently received the top award for the Swachh Iconic Place initiative carried out SHS activities all across the 14 kms track leading to the main temple. Among other activities, large scale shramdaan was done by students and teachers of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi college of Nursing who participated in large numbers.

Taj Mahal, Agra:

With GAIL India as CSR partner, and with the support of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, SHS was carried out at Taj Mahal. The event organized by Sulabh and Agra Nagar Nigam included an awareness drive to curb the use of single use plastics at the Taj Mahal. Meenakshi Amman Temple:

A rally was organized at Madurai Meenakshi AmmanTemple on 18th September. The event saw the participation of Safai Sewaks of the Madurai Municipal Corporation, local NGOs, Madurai Corporation officials and teams (students and teachers) from Avvai Corporation Higher Secondary School. The event was flagged off by the District Collector of Madurai and the Madurai Corporation Commissioner.

Somnath Temple, :

Swachhata Hi Seva was celebrated at with the support of Idea Cellular as their CSR Partner. The nodal agency for this SIP is Gujarat Pavitra Dham Board and Somnath Temple