Aimed at making the cities in India garbage free, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 on October 1.
Speaking on the occasion, he underlined the scope of the country’s target in the next phase of Mission AMRUT as “Improving sewage and septic management, making our cities water safe cities and ensuring that no sewage drains anywhere in our rivers”.
Dedicating the successes of transformation in the urban regeneration and cleanliness to Mahatma Gandhi, the Prime Minister said these missions are the result of inspiration by Mahatma Gandhi and is being realised through his deals only. He also highlighted the case for mothers and daughters due to the construction of toilets.
Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas
Saluting the spirit of the nation, Modi remarked that the journey of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and AMRUT Mission so far makes every countryman proud. He encapsulated the feeling when he said “In this, there is a mission, there is respect, there is dignity, there is also the ambition of a country and there is also unmatched love for the motherland.” He said, along with, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas is critical for the campaign of cleanliness. Further, commenting on the level of public participation with regard to cleanliness, the Prime Minister expressed happiness that the present generation has taken the initiative to strengthen the cleanliness campaign.
cleanliness
Toffee wrappers are no longer thrown on the ground but kept in pocket by children. Small children now ask the elders to avoid mess. “We have to remember that cleanliness is not a task just for a day, a fortnight, a year or for just a few people. Cleanliness is a great campaign for everyone, every day, every fortnight every year, generation after generation. Cleanliness is a lifestyle, cleanliness is a life mantra,” said the Prime Minister.
Enumerating the steps taken to take the campaign of cleanliness to the next level, Modi said India is processing about one lakh tonnes of waste every day. He remarked; “when the country started the campaign in 2014, less than 20 per cent of the waste generated every day in the country was processed. Today we are processing about 70 per cent of daily waste. Now we have to take it to 100 per cent.”
The Prime Minister also talked about enhanced allocations for the Urban Development Ministry. He said in the preceding seven years before 2014, the Ministry was given about Rs 1.25 lakh crore while in seven years from 2014 almost Rs four lakh crore was allocated for the Ministry.
National Automobile Scrappage Policy
The Prime Minister, mentioned recently launched the National Automobile Scrappage Policy, and pointed out that this new scrapping policy strengthens the campaign of Waste to Wealth and a circular economy. He referred to street vendors and hawkers as one of the most important partners of any city in the program related to urban development. He reiterated that PM Svanidhi Yojana has come as a new ray of hope for these people. More than 46 street vendors have availed benefits under Svanidhi scheme and 25 lakh people received Rs 2.5 thousand crore.
