Port Blair, Sept. 17: The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India has given a clarion call for a nationwide shramdaan and cleanliness campaign to be taken up by all stakeholders from 15th September 2017 to 2nd October 2017, with the theme “Swachhata Hi Seva”, to celebrate the spirit of the mission as a ‘Janandolan’, as a run up to the third anniversary celebrations of the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

On the aforesaid call Port Blair city embraces “Swachhta Hi Sewa” pakhwada. The Lt. Governor, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi in the presence of Shri. Anindo Majumdar, Chief Secretary, Shri. B. Eswar Rao, Chairperson, PBMC, Shri. S.C.L. Das, Principal Secretary (UD), Secretary, PBMC, Senior Vice Chairperson, Junior Vice Chairperson and ward councilors launched the campaign at Bhatubasti vegetable market on 15th September 2017.

In his speech the LG expressed his happiness that Port Blair Municipal Council has taken up a subject that was taken up by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in his first speech from Red fort. He congratulated the efforts of the citizens and Port Blair Municipal Council to keep this city clean, thereafter he stressed that the cleanliness is not only the duty of the sanitary worker but also the duty of every citizen. He explained the impact of the “Swachh Bharat Mission” on the lifestyle of the citizen of India. He appreciated the dedicated efforts of Port Blair Municipal Council to lead Port Blair city towards Open defecation free status and at the end of the pakhwada i.e on 2nd October 2017, Port Blair city will be formally declared as Open Defecation free city. He also announced that the whole of Andaman & Nicobar Islands will become Open Defecation Free by 31st March 2017.

The event was followed by cleanliness drive at Bhatubasti Vegetable Market which was also actively participated by the students of St. Mary School, Bhatubasti. 

During the fortnight elaborate arrangements have been made for cleanliness drive. Port Blair Municipal Council is conducting ‘SWACHH WARD’ campaign under the leadership of respective ward councilors for which best ward will be awarded for cleanliness. The Port Blair Municipal Council during the period will hold a logo competition with the theme ‘Swachh Bharat Swachh Port Blair’. Cash awards will be given to best logo selected on 2nd October 2017. The programmes will conclude on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October 2017 by declaring Port Blair as Open Defecation Free.