SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH, SHRI BANWARI LAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF LAUNCHING OF SWACHHATA KNOWLEDGE BOOK AT PUNJAB RAJ BHAWAN CHANDIGARH ON MARCH 12, 2024.

Launch of Swachhata Knowledge Book  (March 12, 2024).

● Municipal Corporation Chandigarh continuously strives to improve sanitation and cleanliness in the city.

● The city's Swacch Sarvekshan Ranking dipped to 66 in 2021 from where we have now risen to 11th in 2023.

● Chandigarh has not only improved its sanitation services but also augmented it’s waste processing facilities.

● The dry waste plant has been operationalized, a new horticulture waste plant has been constructed and a State of Art composting plant has been recently constructed and operationalized.

● Legacy waste has  been almost cleared and the remaining will be cleared in the next two months.

● A State of Art Integrated Solid Waste Management Plant has been designed by NEERI and the tender has been floated for the same.

● Though huge efforts have been made for improvement of systems and infrastructure but  till every citizen, every household takes ownership of the city's cleanliness, we shall not be able to cover the last mile.

● Launch of Swachhata Knowledge Book - This initiative of Municipal Corporation,  Outlook Magazine and Rekhi Foundation,  is a step in the right direction.

● It will be distributed to school students of 9th to 12th Chandigarh (all Government, Government aided, and Pvt. Recognized schools).

● When our young minds will learn basic principles of waste management,  they shall grow up into responsible citizens.

● They shall know why it is important to segregate waste, to compost at home, to reduce waste generated, to not litter and other responsibilities of the citizens like not using single use plastic.

● I am happy that the Outlook group has partnered Municipal Corporation Chandigarh to publish  “Special Collector’s Edition on Civic Science”.

● The Outlook Group as we know is one of the largest publishing houses in the country.

● Rekhi foundation is also partnering in this initiative. The vision of this foundation is “Happiness for all”.

● Since, “Environmentally Smart Citizen is bound to be a Happy Citizen” so we welcome their support as well.

Friends,

● During the last 9 years, Swachh Bharat has become a huge movement, with active participation of citizens from every walk of life.

● The contribution to it by all including children, celebrities, our safai-mitras and the common man has turned it into not just a mass movement but a shared emotion.

● The importance of cleanliness and sanitation was paramount and an integral part in the Gandhian way of living.

● In his view, cleanliness was most important for physical well-being and a healthy environment.

● Let us continue working hand in hand to keep the city clean and hope that in the next Swach Sarvekshan Ranking Chandigarh secures a place in top 5 cities of the Country.

Thank you,

Jai Hind.