The government on Monday announced that the ninth edition of Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) will be held from September 17 to October 2, culminating on Gandhi Jayanti, with a call for citizens across the country to join in a nationwide voluntary cleanliness drive on September 25.
Launched jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, the fortnight-long campaign will mobilise people and institutions to take up high-impact cleanliness drives, particularly targeting neglected and dirty spots in cities and towns.
At the curtain-raiser event, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal said the focus this year would continue to be on Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs), as in 2024 when more than eight lakh such sites were transformed into usable public spaces. He also announced the adoption of Delhi’s Bhalswa dumpsite for transformation, with the clean-up process to begin on September 17.
Union Minister C R Paatil said SHS 2025, themed Swachhotsav, blends “celebration with responsibility” and will focus on CTU transformation, SafaiMitra welfare, plastic-free villages and ODF Plus declarations. He urged citizens to join the “Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath” shramdaan on September 25 to reaffirm India’s commitment to a cleaner and greener future. He also announced a ₹8–10 crore SafaiMitra Suraksha Fund for Surat and Navsari to support sanitation workers and their families.
The campaign will revolve around five pillars: eliminating difficult and neglected spots, ensuring clean public spaces, organising SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivirs for health and welfare of sanitation workers, promoting eco-friendly festivities, and advocacy for cleanliness with a focus on rural ODF Plus and Swachh Sujal Gaon declarations.
A series of preparatory meetings involving the Centre, states, and local bodies have already been held this month to coordinate activities for the campaign.
Swachhata Hi Seva was launched on September 15, 2017, and continued till Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, 2017, as a nationwide campaign to mobilise citizens towards collective cleanliness drives.