Bhubaneswar, 10 October (H.S.): Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday participated in a district-wide mega cleanliness drive organised under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan on the occasion of Mahalaya. More than one lakh volunteers took part in the campaign, which was conducted at over 500 locations across the district by the Sambalpur district administration in association with the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation.

Pradhan joined the cleanliness activities and encouraged people to keep their surroundings clean. He also administered a cleanliness pledge to participants and expressed gratitude to volunteers, students, youth, intellectuals, public representatives and local residents for their active involvement.

Pradhan said cleanliness was not merely an activity but an integral part of one's moral values. Maintaining a clean environment was essential for a healthy life, and people should make cleanliness an inseparable part of their daily routine.

Recalling Mahatma Gandhi's emphasis on cleanliness, Pradhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had transformed the idea into a broad-based people's movement through the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign.

He said the Sambalpur district administration and the municipal corporation had taken forward the cleanliness drive in the spirit of public participation and in memory of Mahatma Gandhi. Around one lakh people across the district joined efforts to clean their homes, neighbourhoods and public spaces. The campaign conveyed a collective message of cleanliness ahead of Mahalaya and Navratri.

Pradhan said cleanliness would contribute to a healthier city, attract more tourists and accelerate development. He stressed that keeping public spaces clean was as important as maintaining cleanliness inside homes and called for collective efforts by all sections of society.

Appealing to people to contribute to the vision of Viksit Odisha and Viksit Bharat, he urged them to keep their surroundings free of waste, give up single-use plastics and make cleanliness a way of life.

He also emphasised the need for sustained efforts to make villages and cities clean, beautiful and green. With active public participation, he said, Sambalpur could achieve the goal of becoming a cleaner and more beautiful district.

The campaign witnessed participation from various social organisations, youth and women's groups, and students from schools and colleges. More than one lakh volunteers took part in cleanliness activities organised at over 500 locations across the district under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda