'Largest people's movement of century': PM Modi commemorates 10th anniversary of Swachh Bharat Mission

PM Modi takes part in 'Swachhata Abhiyan' on the ocassion of Gandhi Jayanti, in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission on Wednesday, hailing the collective efforts of 140 crore Indians for transforming the cleanliness initiative into a 'Jan Andolan' (people's movement). During an event in Delhi, he described the mission as one of the most significant people's movements of the 21st century, with widespread participation and a lasting impact on India’s development.

"Swachh Bharat is the largest and most successful people's movement of this century, driven by mass participation and public leadership," PM Modi remarked, urging a consistent commitment to keeping India clean for future generations.

He stated that the Swachh Bharat campaign has evolved beyond just a cleanliness movement."Swachh Bharat campaign is not just a cleanliness movement; it is now becoming a new path to prosperity," noted PM Modi.

Applauding the collective efforts of citizens, PM Modi said, “You all made the Swachh Bharat Mission a success. Events are being organised today in various parts of the world. Several state CMs, ministers, and other representatives participated in this drive. I have been informed that in just 15 days of ‘Sewa Pakhwada’, more than 27 lakh events were organised in the country, in which more than 28 crore people participated. Continuous efforts can only lead to clean India".

One key achievement, according to the Prime Minister, is the construction of separate toilets in schools, which has led to a significant reduction in the dropout rate of girls. "Construction of separate toilets in schools has reduced dropout rate of girls. This is a crucial step in ensuring not only cleanliness but also the empowerment of girls through education," said PM Modi, underlining the broader social benefits of the campaign.

He highlighted the historical importance of the initiative, saying, "When people talk about 21st century India, even after 1,000 years, they will definitely remember the Swachh Bharat Mission."

Highlighting the progress, PM Modi announced the launch of projects worth Rs 10,000 crore under the Swachh Bharat and AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) missions. These projects include water and sewage treatment plants to be constructed across several states.