Emphasizing on promoting cleanliness and fitness together, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday flagged off ‘Swachchhata Hi Seva’ India plog run at Rajpath to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahamta Gandhi. Plog run involves picking up litter while running. The objective was to spread awareness on the harmful effects of plastic waste and enlist citizens support to eliminate.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Puri said reiterated the committed to the Prime Minister’s vision of single-use plastic-free India. Administering pledge on ‘Swachchhata Hi Seva’ and against using single-use plastic, Puri said the country has achieved the dream of an open defection-free India, except 52 local bodies in West Bengal.
“This has been made possible with the participation of the biggest stakeholders of the movement — the citizens of this country.
“We are committed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India free of single-use plastic. With the launch of the India Plog Run, I am confident that the day is not far when India will be free of single-use plastic,” Puri said.
On his part, Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra said the ministry has already had over 55,000 events conducted by citizens across urban area with participation of around two crore people.
The Ministry has been taking several initiatives on plastic waste management and promoting its reuse and recycle, Mishra said.