Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday called for making cleanliness a continuous practice and part of everyday behaviour, rather than limiting it to the duration of designated campaigns.
Addressing a virtual meeting with Secretaries and senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and the Ministry of Rural Development, Chouhan urged officials and employees to lead by example and actively participate in cleanliness activities. He stressed the need to take Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 beyond government offices by involving rural areas, panchayats, farmers, rural communities, sanitation workers, the media and other stakeholders.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the success of cleanliness initiatives should not be measured merely by physical cleaning of premises or completion of activities within a prescribed period, but by behavioural change, public participation and sustainable outcomes. He called upon officials to treat cleanliness as a shared responsibility and a regular practice in offices, villages, panchayats and workplaces, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Focus on measurable outcomes, proper documentation
The Union Minister directed that cleanliness activities should not become a formality and called for clear, measurable outcomes from the initiatives undertaken. He stressed the importance of systematic documentation of the work, including the use of before-and-after photographs wherever possible, to record improvements and assess the impact of cleanliness activities.
He said the focus should remain on visible improvements, measurable results and sustained efforts rather than merely completing activities during the campaign period.
Departments brief Minister on cleanliness plans
During the meeting, Atish Chandra, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare; Dr Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); Rohit Kansal, Secretary, Department of Rural Development; and P Narhari, Joint Secretary, Department of Land Resources, briefed Chouhan on cleanliness activities undertaken by their respective departments and their forthcoming action plans.
The officials outlined the work completed so far and the activities planned for the next phase, covering participation of employees, field-level initiatives and measures to strengthen cleanliness efforts across departments and their associated offices and institutions.
Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 activities reviewed
The meeting reviewed activities undertaken by the Department of Agriculture under Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 from September 16 to October 2. These included cleanliness pledges, Swachh Pathshala activities, youth participation, solid waste management and cleanliness drives at office premises.
Intensive cleaning of corridors, canteens and toilets at headquarters and field offices was also undertaken. The activities included disposal of old furniture and electronic waste to improve cleanliness and facilitate better utilisation of available office space.
The meeting was also informed about initiatives to honour sanitation workers, organise health check-ups for them and conduct activities for their children. The measures sought to recognise the contribution of sanitation workers while promoting their welfare and wider participation in cleanliness initiatives.
Old furniture, e-waste disposal generates Rs 15 lakh
The meeting was informed that the disposal and auction of old furniture and electronic waste generated approximately Rs 15 lakh in revenue. Officials and employees also participated in collective cleanliness drives through shramdaan, contributing their time and effort to the campaign.
A plan was also shared to take forward activities under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. The initiatives discussed combined cleanliness with responsible disposal of unused material, employee participation and efforts to create cleaner and more organised workplaces.
Special Campaign to target pending work, scrap and unused material
Regarding the Special Campaign from October 2 to October 31, 2026, departments shared targets for disposal of pending files and cases, reduction of pending matters, disposal of scrap and e-waste, better utilisation of office space and removal of unusable material.
As part of the campaign, unused computers, printers and other electronic equipment will be identified and processed for disposal in accordance with prescribed rules and procedures. Progress against the targets will be reviewed regularly and achievements documented.
The campaign will focus not only on physical cleanliness but also on improving office efficiency and organisation by addressing pending matters, removing redundant material and ensuring better utilisation of available space.
-PIB Inputs
