"Swachh Bharat", or a clean India, seems to be one of the top agendas for the NDA government as Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday gave a call for a "clean country" by 2019, which co-incides with Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary.
Modi reiterated the National Democratic Alliance government's resolve for "swachh Bharat" in the debate on the notion of thanks to the president's address.
"Mahatma Gandhi laid great emphasis on cleanliness. His ashrams too focused on the same. Let us pledge we will give a 'clean India' as a gift to our father of nation on his 150th birth anniversary in 2019," Modi said.
Modi has already given directive to maintain strict cleanliness and hygiene in government buildings and offices.
At most government buildings in the capital, staff are on their toes to thoroughly clean up premises, replacing broken furniture and disposing old, torn files, in keeping with Modi's directive.
Modi's agenda for clean India found mention in President Pranab Mukherjee's address to joint houses of parliament on Monday.
Mukherjee said: "For ensuring hygiene, waste management and sanitation across the nation a 'Swachh Bharat Mission' will be launched. This will be our tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary to be celebrated in the year 2019."
Mukherjee announced that the government would build 100 cities focussed on specialized domains and equipped with world class amenities to ensure cleanliness.
"The government will build 100 cities focussed on specialized domains and equipped with world class amenities. Integrated infrastructure will be rolled out in model towns to focus on cleanliness and sanitation. By the time the nation completes 75 years of its Independence, every family will have a pucca house with water connection, toilet facilities, 24x7 electricity supply and access," Mukherjee said.
Modi has also spoken about the importance of environmental cleanliness in his election speeches and has promised to clean up the ghats of Varanasi, the Hindu holy city, that is notoriously dirty with its streets and lanes littered with uncleared garbage. Modi is the MP from Varanasi.
