Swachhata Pakhwada (01 - 15 July, 2020)

Hon'ble Prime Minister of India had launched the Swachh Bharat Mission on 2nd October 2014 to accelerate the efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put the focus on sanitation. The mission being executed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti at national level.

The mission objectives are to eradicate open defecation, efficient management of solid and liquid waste, encourage cost effective and appropriate technologies for ecologically safe and sustainable sanitation, overall cleanliness and to create significant positive impact on gender and promote social inclusion by improving sanitation.

This mission is the biggest social initiative taken up by the Government of India to enhance hygiene standards. The movement has helped in cleaning up the streets, roads and infrastructure in many cities, small towns, and rural areas of India. High-levels of advocacy have helped in reducing open defecation and promote building household owned and community owned toilets. This has risen the hygiene and sanitation standards in the country.

Under the mission, Swachhta Pakhwada was started with a vision to mainstream Swachhta activities across all Ministries / Departments of Govt. of India. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the attached, sub-ordinate and autonomous offices under the administrative control of MoES are actively participating in this national mission since its inception. First fortnight of July 2020 (July 01 - 15) is allocated to MoES under the Swachhta Pakhwada.

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research have actively participated in the Swachh Bharat Mission over the years and organised various events including walkathon, donation of cleaning items to Schools, competition for school children, etc. to spread the message of Swachhta and as per practise have planned several activities during Swachhata Pakhwada in the current year within the various guidelines issued regarding COVID-19 preventative measures.