Odisha Govt Gears Up Districts & ULBs For ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ Campaign

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has set the deadline and directed the district administrations and urban local bodies (ULBs) to complete the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) targets through Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) campaign.

Usha Padhee, principal secretary, Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) department and SK Lohani, principal secretary, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water (PR&DW) department on Thursday held a joint review meeting on the preparedness of “Swachhata Hi Seva” (SHS) campaign with district collectors and senior officials from various departments.

The meeting aimed at ensuring smooth execution of the campaign across all districts and ULBs. Both Padhee and Lohani emphasised on adhering to the SHS guidelines and ensuring timely completion of campaign activities. They also underscored the coordinated efforts among district administrations, ULBs and communities to achieve the objectives of a cleaner and healthier Odisha.

Padhee highlighted the critical role of the SHS campaign particularly focusing on waste management, public participation and sustainable sanitation practices. She urged district officials to engage citizens, community organisations and local stakeholders to make the campaign a people-driven movement.

Lohani, in his remarks, called for close collaboration between rural and urban authorities to ensure that both panchayats and ULBs work in synergy. He noted that effective communication and seamless coordination at the grassroots level will play a crucial role in the success of the campaign.

The review meeting also included discussions on monitoring mechanisms, best practices for waste segregation, and innovative approaches to public engagement.

The collectors were told to focus on key activities such as cleanliness drives, awareness campaigns and community-led waste management systems. The principal secretaries advised all districts to ensure that Swachhata activities are in full swing by the designated deadlines, emphasising the importance of compliance with national guidelines for the campaign.

Special Secretary Rajesh Paravakar Patil and Additional Secretary Binay Dash, along with other senior officials also participated in the discussions.

STA to take active part

The State Transport Authority (STA) will actively participate in the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign to be observed from September 17 to October 1 under the theme “Swabhav Swachhata – Sanskaar Swachhata.” The campaign will see RTOs across the state engaged in a series of cleanliness and awareness activities under various categories.

During a preparatory meeting chaired by Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur, it was decided that activities will be carried out in alignment with the agenda of ‘Swachhata Ki Bhagidari.’ These activities include plantation drives, Swachhata Runs & Cyclothons and taking Swachhata Pledges. Special efforts will be made for the beautification of roads, flyovers and nearby areas of RTO offices.

The STA and RTOs will also focus on identifying and clearing Swachhata Lakshit Ekayi – Black Spots (Cleanliness Target Units or CTUs), which are neglected areas posing environmental, health, and hygiene risks. A concerted effort will be made to transform these spots through regular cleanliness drives, particularly near RTO offices, highway stretches, roadside bus stops, dhabas, and toll plazas. These identified spots will be cleared by October 1 and celebrated on Swachh Bharat Diwas.

In addition, Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs will be organised at various locations under the jurisdiction of the RTOs, including railway stations, educational institutes, petrol pumps, and airports. Awareness camps will focus on promoting the welfare of sanitation workers and informing the public about health schemes such as PM-JAY and Ayushman Bharat.

The Transport Commissioner called for carrying out these cleanliness efforts beyond the campaign period and ensuring a long-term impact on cleanliness and hygiene standards.