Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao today said people have forgotten the cultural and religious practice of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene due to a busy daily life and Mahatma Gandhi's dream of a "clean India" was yet to be fulfilled.
"Gandhiji had cleanliness and sanitation close to his heart. Cleanliness should begin from each home. The concept of cleanliness is not new to us," Rao, Governor of Maharashtra, holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu, said during the Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations here.
Noting that India has a "rich tradition" and "culture" which lays emphasis on "cleanliness", Rao said, "in our busy daily life and pressures of the modern world today, we have forgotten the cultural and religious practice of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene."
"Gandhiji's dream of a clean India is yet to be fulfilled", he said.
Referring to the Swachhata Hi Seva programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rao said, "it is high time the practice of cleanliness is cultivated as a routine habit."
"We have to build a Clean India by 2019 and this would be a befitting tribute to the Father of our Nation, on his 150th birth anniversary", he said.
Rao said parents and teachers should play a pivotal role in creating awareness on cleanliness among children.
"Cleanliness is not only the responsibility of the authorities or local bodies, but each and every citizen of this great nation should dedicate himself to share his responsibility to keep our nation clean and green," he said.
Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, minister for school education K A Sengottaiyan and minister for information and publicity Kadambur Raju were among those who were present on the occasion.
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