The government of Karnataka launched the ‘Swachhameva Jayate’ campaign on Thursday in a bid to step up the cleanliness and hygiene efforts of the state. It programme, implemented by the Rural Decelopment and Panchayat Raj Department of the state, will first focus on rural areas.
Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Dr G Parameshwara launched the campaign on Thursday along with Krishna Byre Gowda, the Minister of Rural Development.
A logo was released for the campaign, one with a young boy and one with a young girl in front of a map of the state.
Though not present at the event, Chief Minister of the state HD Kumaraswamy stated in a press release, “It is our duty as citizens of the state to ensure our land and our environment is protected and conserved. A huge part of that is ensuring we all keep our surroundings clean, and follow hygienic practices. We hope this campaign will help take that message far and wide.”
The campaign comes at the same time as the Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2018 survey, being undertaken by the Central Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation which aims to target over 600 villages throughout India and rank them based on whether toilets are available and on general cleanliness.
A press release issued by the Department stated that, “While Karnataka has already taken leadership in improving civic infrastructure and public hygiene, compared to other states, the government knows that cleanliness is not a one-time project. In order to drive home the message, it is using this Swachhameva Jayate campaign to further inform and educate the rural citizens.”
While the survey is a pan-Indian one, Swachhameva Jayate will focus on rural Karnataka.
“To truly take the message far and wide, the government has decided to focus on children as drivers of this message. While adult behaviour towards hygiene will take time and effort to change, children are a lot more amenable to change. Children are spontaneous, honest and full of infectious energy. They have the power to create the India of tomorrow,” said Krishna Byre Gowda about the campaign.