Prez says significant strides made in cleanliness much more

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' nears completion of its first year, President Pranab Mukherjee today said that "significant strides" have been made in the cleanliness mission, but "much more needs to be done".
At an event here at Rashtrapati Bhavan bringing together all the Swachh Bharat ambassadors, the President urged the stakeholders to build "affordable and sustainable Swachh infrastructure" while stressing at the same time that the mission's success is "equally dependent on each individual's actions".
The cleanliness drive had been flagged off by the prime minister last year on October 2 on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.

"The strategy is to engage the country's icons as Swachh Bharat Ambassadors to make it a 'Jan Andolan'.
"Swachh Bharat ambassadors have a huge potential to influence the public to adopt safe sanitation practices and integrate them into their daily lives," the President said addressing the gathering on the occasion which included master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, industrialist Anil Ambani and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
"The role of ambassadors is not only to create awareness and motivate citizens, but also to join hands on-ground and participate in Swachh Bharat activities," he added.

Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu who, too, was present for the event, reminded those present of Mahatma Gandhi's exhortation that "purna swaraj has no meaning without proper sanitation".

Observing that that freedom is "still to be realised", the minister said, "When this freedom is attained, we will be able to create brand new India for which all of you have been chosen as brand ambassadors."
The function, held in the Durbar Hall in Rashtrapati Bhavan, was attended by a host of distinguished personalities like actor Kamal Haasan, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, cricketer Mohammed Kaif and Suresh Raina.
The event also saw Bollywood composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy present a preview of the Swachh Bharat anthem, "Dam Damak Dam Dam Damkega India", which has been penned by lyricist-poet Prasoon Joshi. The song was performed for the gathering by Shankar Mahadevan and singer-turned- politician, Union minister Babul Supriyo.

The Urban Development minister also released a coffee table book on the Swachh Bharat Mission and presented its first copy to the President.