“Delhi’s Freedom from Garbage – Cleanliness Drive” to begin from 1st August
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Hon’ble Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced that, to mark India’s Independence anniversary, the Delhi Government will launch the “Delhi’s Freedom from Garbage – Cleanliness Drive”. This special campaign will run from 1 to 31 August.
The Chief Minister has appealed to the citizens of Delhi to actively participate and help make the city clean and hygienic. To ensure the campaign is carried out effectively, all departments of the Delhi Government will contribute. The drive will also involve Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), market associations, school and college students, and other institutions. To encourage public participation, a dedicated online portal will be launched.
At a high-level meeting held today to review preparations for the “Delhi’s Freedom from Garbage – Cleanliness Drive”, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of coordinated efforts. The meeting was attended by Urban Development and Education Minister Mr Ashish Sood, Chief Secretary Mr Dharmendra, and senior officials from the Urban Development Department, PWD, Delhi Municipal Corporation, NDMC, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and other key departments. Mrs Gupta stated that August is celebrated as the month of India’s Independence, and the government has resolved that this August, Delhi will achieve “freedom from garbage”.
She added that with extensive public participation and strong inter-departmental coordination, the campaign would be implemented so effectively that citizens would truly feel the capital has achieved “freedom from garbage”.
The Chief Minister Rekha Gupta further said that, in addition to engaging the general public, special measures would be taken to ensure the participation of RWAs, market associations, temple committees, school and college students, and all sections of society, so that the entire city adopts the “Delhi’s Freedom from Garbage – Cleanliness Drive” as its own. The campaign will place particular focus on schools, government offices and hospitals, with targeted efforts to clear long-accumulated waste and unused items from storerooms. It will also cover vegetable and fruit markets, industrial areas, bus terminals and depots. All ministers of the Delhi Government, MLAs, MPs and municipal councillors will participate in the campaign and run initiatives to increase citizen involvement.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also informed that special programmes under the “Freedom from Garbage” campaign would be held every Saturday and Sunday throughout August. Alongside wide publicity through multiple channels, a dedicated online portal will allow residents to upload ‘before and after’ photographs of cleaned sites to showcase their contribution.
The Chief Minister stated that particular attention would be given to slum areas, unauthorised colonies and informal settlements, ensuring that a significantly higher volume of waste is collected and disposed of compared to normal days. Appealing to the people of Delhi, she said that by participating, they would not only help free the city from garbage but also reinforce Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that a nation can only become truly clean when every citizen accepts personal responsibility. She emphasised that cleanliness is not merely a government initiative but a civic duty.
The Chief Minister further announced that on 29 July, a major meeting would be held at the Civic Centre, where ministers, MPs, councillors and association representatives would finalise responsibilities to ensure the smooth execution of the campaign.
On this occasion, Urban Development and Education Minister Mr Ashish Sood said that through the “Delhi’s Freedom from Garbage – Cleanliness Drive”, the city would send a strong message to the nation that the people of Delhi are committed to such initiatives. He added that school and college students would play a crucial role in spreading awareness and mobilising citywide participation. He also mentioned that the government is considering recognising and rewarding those who share their photographs on the official portal.