To mark the first year anniversary of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission), brand ambassadors from various industries were invited to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday to meet the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.
Congratulating Union Minister of Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu for involving distinguished public figures as Swachh Bharat Mission ambassadors over the past one year, the President stressed the need for cleanliness and sanitation. “However, much more needs to be done. In addition to building affordable and sustainable Swachh infrastructure, the success of the mission is equally dependent on each individual’s action. Thus, the strategy is to engage the country’s icons as Swachh Bharat ambassadors to make it as a Jan Andolan,” he said.
He further added, “Swachh Bharat ambassadors have got a huge potential to influence public to adopt safe sanitation practices and integrate them into their daily lives. An ambassador does not only encourage his/her followers to imbibe the spirit of a Clean India, but also motivates them to become Swachh Bharat ambassadors themselves, making this mission a true form of Jan Andolan. The role of ambassadors is not only to create awareness and motivate citizens, but also to join hands on-ground and participate in mission activities.”
Also, Naidu released a Coffee Table Book on Swachh Bharat Mission and presented its first copy to the President. Apart from it, a curtain raiser of the Swachh Bharat Anthem was also presented by MoS for Urban Development Babul Supriyo, Prasoon Joshi, Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa at the occasion.
