Delhi: In a significant event organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, President Droupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards in New Delhi on January 11, 2024. Addressing the audience, the President underscored the crucial link between cleanliness and prosperity, applauding the wide participation in the Swachh Survekshan initiative.
Promoting Cleanliness for Prosperity:
President Murmu commended the Swachh Survekshan for its extensive reach and participation, considering it a vital step towards elevating cleanliness standards. She expressed appreciation for the collective effort in advancing the nation on the path from ‘Cleanliness to Prosperity.’ Notably, the President highlighted the economic empowerment opportunities emerging from cleanliness campaigns, particularly benefiting women.
Acknowledging Safai Mitras:
Recognizing the pivotal role of Safai Mitras as frontline soldiers in the cleanliness campaign, President Murmu expressed satisfaction with the effective measures being taken to ensure their safety, dignity, and welfare. She emphasized the need for mechanized cleaning to eliminate manholes, envisioning a society that establishes its identity by achieving sanitation goals through machine-driven processes.
Circular Economy in Waste Management:
The President noted with pleasure the emphasis on circularity in waste management during the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission. She lauded the circular economy’s recycling and reusing methods as conducive to sustainable development. President Murmu expressed confidence that adopting such methods would significantly contribute to effective waste management.
Value from Waste:
Reflecting on the concept of value from waste, President Murmu emphasized that everything holds value, and nothing should be considered as waste. She highlighted innovative approaches such as generating biogas from green waste and producing electricity from refuse-derived fuel as examples of holistic and progressive thinking in waste management.
Eliminating Dump-sites:
Addressing the issue of urban waste, the President emphasized the essential role of cleanliness in the health and development of cities and towns. She acknowledged the harm caused by mountains of garbage and expressed satisfaction that dump sites were being eliminated under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. President Murmu expressed confidence in achieving the target of zero dump sites through effective efforts in all urban areas.
Youth as Stakeholders:
President Murmu concluded her address by acknowledging the crucial role of youth as stakeholders. Urging the younger generation to champion the cause of cleanliness, she envisioned India being recognized among the cleanest countries in the world by its centenary of independence in 2047. The President called upon the youth to strive towards making India the epitome of cleanliness globally.
