Bhubaneswar, Sept 17: In the run-up to Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2, a nationwide ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign has been launched, set to run from September 17 to October 2 across all educational institutions in the country.

As part of this 15-day cleanliness drive, schools, colleges, and universities have been directed to carry out extensive sanitation activities in campuses, classrooms, hostels, libraries, examination halls, canteens, and nearby areas. The campaign emphasizes active participation from students, teachers, and non-teaching staff.

Notably, students associated with NSS, NCC, as well as those not enrolled in such bodies, are expected to engage in the cleanliness activities. A key highlight of the campaign will be the nationwide synchronized cleanliness drive scheduled for 8 AM on September 25.

Institutions have been asked to coordinate with local PRI (Panchayati Raj Institutions) and ULB (Urban Local Bodies) to ensure broader public participation. Cleanliness efforts are also to be extended to public spaces, beyond institutional boundaries.

Participants are instructed to document their activities by uploading photographs, short videos, and concise reports to the designated departmental portal.

To further raise awareness, institutions will organize debate competitions, quizzes, and essay writing events focusing on cleanliness and waste management. Moreover, students are encouraged to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to create short videos, reels, posters, songs, and other creative content aligned with the theme of the campaign.

The initiative aims to instill a spirit of civic responsibility and align with the vision of a ‘Swachh Bharat’ (Clean India) as championed by Mahatma Gandhi.