Tourism Minister celebrates successful ‘Swacchta Pakhwada’ campaign with media

New Delhi, October 5: Tourism Ministry this year brought out a revolutionary change in the country by initiating ‘Swacchta Pakhwada’. The cleanliness movement was observed from September 16 to October 2 with various cleanliness activities/programmes at the premises of its offices/ educational institutions/ prominent tourist places etc. All educational institutes under Ministry of Tourism adopted at least one tourist place to maintain cleanliness in a sustainable way. Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam briefed media on ‘Swacchta Hi Sewa’ campaign which consisted of ‘Swacchta Pakhwada’ in it. 

Minister further said that during the campaigns, other major clean-up activities included pledge swearing, awareness activities, essay competition, nuked natak etc. The Minister said that he himself volunteered various cleanliness activities at India Gate on 17th September, 2017, at Janpath Market on the World Tourism Day (27th September, 2017) and at Smith village, Shillong, Meghalaya on 30th September, 2017. Officers of Ministry of Tourism as well as students from Institutes of Hotel Management (IHM) were also present. 

The cleanliness activities carried out by the Minister at various spots drew the attention of visitors as well as shopkeepers/ vendors and conveyed the importance of maintaining the places clean to the public. Minister interacted with the visitors as well as shopkeepers and urged everyone to contribute to make the country clean and beautiful. He also administered the Swachhta Pledge to all participants at these places.

Alphons also informed the media persons that the Ministry of Tourism, in close collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), envisages developing heritage sites and making them tourist friendly to enhance their tourism potential and cultural importance, in a planned and phased manner. Accordingly, on World Tourism Day celebrated on 27th September, 2017 launched “Adopt a Heritage” with the aim to encourage industry and other stakeholders to take up responsibility for making our heritage and tourism more sustainable through conservation and development of our cultural and natural heritage sites. The project focuses on providing basic amenities that include cleanliness, public conveniences, drinking water, ease of access for tourists, signage etc. and advanced amenities like cafeteria, surveillance system, tourist facilitation centre, illumination etc., in and around the heritage sites and monuments.

A film on “Swachhta” was also launched during the celebration of ‘World Tourism Day’. The cleanup activities undertaken during the campaign at Velankanni Church, Chennai by the Regional Director, South have also been recognised by Ministry of Drinking water with an award.