Agartala, September 17: A cleanliness campaign in Santirbazar on Thursday brought together government representatives and sanitation workers, with Tripura SC Welfare Minister Sudhangshu Das stressing that maintaining hygiene requires the participation of the wider community.
Das inaugurated the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan at the Mukut Auditorium premises and launched the South Tripura district-level Swachhata Hi Seva programme. He marked the launch by watering saplings at the venue.
Addressing the gathering, Das said sanitation should remain a shared civic responsibility rather than being treated solely as an official programme. He urged citizens to contribute to cleanliness efforts while continuing with their regular work and other responsibilities.
The minister also referred to the Swachh Bharat Mission, which was launched on October 2, 2014. He said the campaign was aimed at advancing Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of a clean India and had been followed by several initiatives focused on sanitation and waste management.
According to Das, toilets have been constructed for nearly 12 crore households under the various cleanliness initiatives, with women among those who have benefited significantly. He also highlighted measures taken to improve solid waste management.
Das later joined sanitation workers in the Santirbazar cleanliness drive and interacted with them. He presented special gifts to sanitation workers of the Santirbazar Municipal Council as part of the programme.
The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan also included a visit to Santirbazar District Hospital. Das distributed fruits and sweets among patients during the visit.
South Tripura Zilla Sabhadhipati Dipak Dutta, MLAs Pramod Reang, Mailayu Mog and Swapna Majumdar, Santirbazar Municipal Council chairperson Swapna Baidya, South Tripura District Magistrate Md Sajjad P, Santirbazar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Dipika Gautam and social worker Dwipayan Chowdhury attended the event.
The programmes focused on cleanliness, community service and public participation, with Das calling for continued efforts to promote sanitation and hygiene across the district.
