Pernem: Central Bureau of Communication-Goa, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, celebrated Swachh Bharat Diwas in a unique way as around 700 students came together to form a massive image of Mahatma Gandhi at Viscount of Pernem High School, Pernem, on October 2, 2024. The programs, conducted in collaboration with the school, marked the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, under a ‘Whole of Government’ approach, making sanitation ‘everyone’s business.’
The students underwent five days of training by Rajmohan Shetye, an art teacher, to ensure the event’s success. The entire process was captured using a drone camera. Later, at a function at the school, Ms. Rupa Deshprabhu, an educationalist, emphasized the importance of individual responsibility in keeping surroundings clean to make the Clean India campaign a mass movement. She also highlighted the contributions of Lal Bahadur Shastri, an outstanding statesman and the third Prime Minister of India, whose birthday coincides with Gandhi’s. Addressing the gathering, Riyas Babu, Field Publicity Officer, CBC Goa, noted that the Swachh Bharat Mission is not just about cleaning the premises. “The Nature magazine has praised the mission’s efforts, estimating that it helped avert 60,000-70,000 child deaths annually. Similarly, a 2018 report from the World Health Organization estimated that due to the campaign, over 3 lakh diarrhea deaths were prevented in 2019 compared to 2014. So, the campaign is also about saving lives, providing a hygienic environment, and dignity to the underprivileged,” he said.
Cultural programs on the Swachhata theme were staged by students at the event. The winners of the competitions were awarded prizes, and the students took a Swachhata pledge. Rajendra Bondre, Headmaster of Viscount School, was present at the event along with other teaching staff members, parents, students, and CBC officials. As part of the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign observed from September 17 to October 02, the CBC carried out cleanliness drives and conducted various competitions for the students. A tree plantation drive was also conducted under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam program. The CBC has also put up hoardings on the Swachhata mission in and around Panaji as part of its initiatives to create awareness among the masses.
