Swachhata Hi Seva campaign: PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, other BJP leaders take to street for cleanliness drive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sweeps and cleans the premises of Baba Sahib Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Delhi's Paharganj as a part of Swachhata hi seva movement. The PM noted few would have thought that nine crore toilets would be built and 4.5 lakh villages declared open defecation free in four years. The "cleanliness is service" campaign will continue till Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2, with Modi asking people to rededicate themselves to fulfilling the father of the nation's dream of a clean India during an interactive programme.

The prime minister spoke to groups of people from across the country besides several religious figures, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and personalities including Amitabh Bachchan and Ratan Tata through video-conference in which they shared details of their work for the campaign. The sanitation coverage in India has increased to over 90 per cent from 40 per cent in four years, Modi said.

"Had anybody imagined that more than 450 districts would be open defecation free (ODF) in four years or that 20 states and Union Territories would be open defecation free in four years," he said, calling it a historic day today as he launched the fortnight-long campaign.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah lead cleanliness drive at Begumpet in Hyderabad (Telangana) as a part of Swachhata hi seva movement.

Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan lead cleanliness drive at New Delhi as a part of Swachhata hi seva movement.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal cleans Old Delhi railway station as a part of Swachhata hi seva movement.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh sweeps the streets in Haryana's Faridabad as part of Swachhata hi seva movement.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad cleans Patna's Mithapur area as a part of Swachhata hi seva movement.