Swachh Bharat campaign showing results: Minister

LUCKNOW: Basic education minister Satish Chandra Dwivedi on Monday stated that the Swachh Bharat campaign was now showing results across the country.

Dwivedi expressed these views at the prize distribution ceremony organised by the Vidya Bharti, an NGO working in education sector, for winners of its statewide completion on cleanliness and eradication of polythene. In the competition organised between August 26 and September 29, students took part in essay writing, slogan, poet and painting competitions.

Addressing the gathering, Dwivedi said: “The Swachh Bharat campaign is now showing desired results in houses across the country. People are more aware now when it comes to cleanliness.” Also present on the occasion, chief secretary, state government, RK Tewari, said: “The state government is very serious to make the Swachh Bharat campaign a hit in the state.”

Prof SP Singh, vice chancellor of Lucknow University, said: “Use of polythene in the society is not very old. Around 40-50 years ago people used to carry bags made of cloth. There was no polythene at that time.”

Singh asserted that it would not take long to remove plastic carry bags altogether from the society. Prof MLB Bhatt, vice chancellor of KGMU, said: “It is due to increasing awareness towards sanitation and cleanliness that the life span of people has increased.” Saurabh Mishra, RSS leader, pointed out that such competitions would play a major role in encouraging students to create awareness among others about the importance of sanitation.