Cleanliness is Everyone’s Responsibility – Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai

CM Honours ‘Swachhata Didis’ for Their Vital Role in Building a Cleaner, Healthier Nation

Raipur : Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today emphasized that cleanliness is not just a campaign, but a shared responsibility of every citizen. Speaking at a felicitation ceremony in Bagia village of Jashpur district, he lauded the relentless efforts of “Swachhata Didis” (sanitation workers), who have played a key role in transforming their communities with dedication and service. During the event, CM Sai honoured these women with sarees, mementos, and certificates of appreciation.

“Swachhata Didis have not only cleaned our streets but have also reshaped the mindset of society,” the Chief Minister said. Recalling his past visits to villages where garbage lined the roads, he noted how this blemished the natural beauty of districts like Jashpur. “Thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, the Swachh Bharat Mission launched on 2nd October 2014 has become a national movement,” he added, praising PM Modi’s symbolic act of wielding the broom to inspire people across the country.

The Chief Minister remarked that the active involvement of Swachhata Didis has helped Jashpur gain national recognition in the cleanliness drive. “Their hard work is the reason why Jashpur has now earned its distinct identity at the national level in the Swachhata rankings,” he stated. He appealed to all citizens to adopt cleanliness as a personal habit, and to take responsibility for keeping their homes, localities, temples, and public spaces clean.

Under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ Swachh Survekshan 2024—India’s largest cleanliness survey covering 4,589 urban bodies—Jashpur’s urban areas performed exceptionally. Jashpurnagar ranked 10th nationally in the population category of 20,000 to 50,000, a significant leap from its 505th rank in 2023. Nagar Panchayat Kunkuri secured 13th rank, Pathalgaon 30th, Bagicha 51st, and Kotba 64th. These achievements, the CM said, reflect the synergy between sanitation workers and administrative teams.

CM Sai highlighted the efforts of urban bodies under his leadership to make districts cleaner and more beautiful. Initiatives include construction of BT roads, road markings, upgraded public toilets, beautification of junctions, wall paintings, park development using waste material, composting sheds, recycling centres, paving of footpaths, and signage installations. “But the soul of this transformation,” he said, “are our Swachhata Didis, who carry out the labor-intensive work of door-to-door waste collection in every lane and locality.”

Jashpur MLA Smt. Raymuni Bhagat congratulated all sanitation workers, urban body officials, and citizens on their success. Pathalgaon MLA and Vice Chairperson of the Sarguja Development Authority, Smt. Gomti Sai, praised the Didis for bringing dignity to a previously neglected domain. “They not only raised awareness but brought about real behavioural change among the public, leading Jashpur to this honour,” she added.

Also present at the ceremony were District Panchayat President Shri Salik Sai, Vice President Shri Shaurya Pratap Singh Judev, Collector Shri Rohit Vyas, Municipal Council Chairman Shri Arvind Bhagat, Vice Chairman Shri Yash Pratap Singh Judev, along with numerous public representatives and citizens.