By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: The Ministry of Mines along with CPSEs and its field formations has observed Swachhata Pakhwada, a fortnight full of activities from 15th to 30th September 2023. During the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) campaign, the Ministry o along with its attached and sub-ordinate offices have observed 176 SHS activities across fifteen states. In these events 7197 people were engaged and 40868 man hours were utilized.
Under Swachhata Hi Seva 2023 initiative, National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO). distributed 100 number of umbrellas to the Konark Temple Management. Employees of NALCO were engaged in a mega cleaning activity on Ramchandi temple and adjoining beach at Konark, Odisha as part of awareness campaign for ensuring plastic-free beach. To create awareness on Swachhata, NALCO invited renowned sand artist Shri Manas Sahoo and he created a mesmerising sand art on the Golden Sea beach at Puri, that impressed one and all and widely covered by Media, serving the purpose of creating awareness about SHS 2023.
Hindustan Copper Ltd. also observed SHS 2023 with 51 activities. Mega cleaning drives took place in Indian Copper Complex (ICC), Ghatshila, Dist.-East Singhbhum, Jharkhand; Khetri Copper Complex (KCC), Khetri, Dist.-Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan; Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP), Malanjkhand, Dist.-Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh; Taloja Copper Complex (TCP), Taloja, Dist.-Raigad, Maharashtra; Gujarat Copper Project (GCP), Jhagadia, Dist.- Bharuch, Gujarat; Regional Sales Office (RSO), Delhi and at their Corporate Office in Kolkata.
Mineral Exploration & Consultancy Ltd. has also organised 14 on-ground activities during this period. A grand sit and draw competition for kids was held at the MECL Corporate Office.
National Institute of Rock Mechanics also observed Swachhata Hi Seva with various cleanliness activities in office premises and neighbourhood in Karnataka.
Indian Bureau of Mines HQ Nagpur and its field offices have also participated enthusiastically in Swachchta Hi Seva programmes. During this Swachhata Pakhwada, IBM employees participated in 31 activities. Held bicycle rally, mass plantation, various outdoor cleanliness drives, distribution of swatchhta kits at govt. schools etc.
In alignment with the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, Geological Survey of India had observed World Tourism Day in the Fossil Parks identified by GSI. To promote Geo-Heritage sites, GSI organised activities in Siwalik Fossil Park, Himachal Pradesh; Tiruvakkarai Fossil Wood Park, Tamil Nadu; Amkhoi Fossil Wood Park, West Bengal; Stromatolite Park, Rajasthan; Dinosaur Fossil Park, Gujarat; Marine Gondwana Fossil Park, Chhattisgarh; Stromatolite Bearing Carbonate, Sikkim. Apart from the plantation drive, wall art paintings and free health check-up camps for housekeeping employees were also organised.
SHS campaign is now reaching its peak on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi; with the call for one hour Shramdaan by the Prime Minister. The Government of India has urged the citizens to devote one hour of Shramdaan on 1st October on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti with the slogan “EkTareekhEkGhantaEkSaath” to clean our neighbourhood areas under the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign.
Ministry of Mines and its units are going to execute 39 activities on 1st October 2023. Senior officials from the Ministry of Mines will be visiting different places for 15 different activities across the country. Under their guidance Swachhata Hi Seva activities will take place. It will be a ‘Swachhanjali’ to Mahatama Gandhi on the eve of his Jayanti. On 2nd October all the Units of the Ministry of Mines and attached or subordinate offices will pay their Shradhanjali to the Father of the Nation with Swachhata Pledge and many more activities and culmination of Swachhata Hi Seva Programme with the start of Special Campaign 3.0.
