By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: As per the Calendar of Swachhata Pakhwada for the year 2021 released by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Steel and all PSUs under its administrative control viz. SAIL, NMDC, RINL, KIOCL, MOIL, MECON, MSTC & FSNL observed the ‘Swachhata Pakhwada’ from 16th-31st March, 2021. Officers/Officials of Ministry and employees in various Plants/Units of PSUs spread across the country participated in various activities organized during the Pakhwada, as per the schedule of the activities.
In the Ministry of Steel, the Pakhwada commenced by administering of ‘Swachhata Pledge’ to the employees of the Ministry on 16th March, 2021. Cloth Banners were displayed at prominent places in the office premises of the Ministry for spreading awareness. Taking into account the ongoing spread of COVID-19, face masks were distributed to the employees of Ministry. Housekeeping workers engaged in cleaning & sanitization of rooms of Ministry and Officers/Officials were felicitated during the Pakhwada. Further, competitions on the theme of importance of cleanliness in corona pandemic were organized for the employees of the Ministry.
‘Shramdan’ by Officers/Officials of Ministry was done which included recording and weeding out of old files & records, removal of old posters/banners etc. Based on various parameters, cleanliness inspection of rooms of Ministry was also conducted by a team of officers to select ‘Cleanest Section’ of Ministry of Steel. Swachhata Pakhwada concluded in Ministry on 31st March, 2021 with felicitating of staff of the Cleanest Section by presenting autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi and winners of essay writing competition by providing certificate & prizes.
During the Swachhata Pakhwada, PSUs under the Ministry have taken up various activities such as administration of swachhata pledge, cleaning up of townships, factories, nearby villages/slums, cleaning up of schools run or adopted by them under Swachh Vidyalaya, awareness program on curbing use of single use plastic etc. Apart from the above, Steel Safety Day was observed on 28th March, 2021. PSUs have also drawn up elaborated plans for the FY 2021-22 under Swachhata Action Plan which includes removal/reduction of slag, removal/reduction of iron ore fines and recycling of gaseous waste in power generation.
