Hindustan Times : Aug 08, 2020, 08:14 PM
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra’, an interactive experience centre on the Swachh Bharat Mission, in New Delhi on Saturday and said that Swacch Bharat Mission or the cleanliness drive has been a big support in fight against coronavirus.A tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, the Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra (RSK) was first announced by the prime minister on April 10, 2017 on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of Gandhiji’s Champaran ‘satyagraha’.After taking a tour of the RSK, located near Raj Ghat, the prime minister interacted with 36 school students, representing the 36 states and union territories, at the amphitheatre .He expressed satisfaction that the children were following social distancing norms and wearing masks to curb the spread of Covid-19.“We all are a part of a campaign now, ‘Gandagi, Bharat Chorho’. I am glad that all of us, including the children present here, are following social distancing norms and wearing masks, to control the spread of Covid-19,” he told the students.Speaking about Mahatma Gandhi, the PM said that the whole world was now coming forward to adopt his values.“The whole world is coming forward to adopt the values and principals of Mahatma Gandhi. When Gandhi ji’s 150th birth anniversary was celebrated last year, that was unprecedented. Singers of different countries learnt and sung his favourite song ‘Vaishnav Jan To’,” he said.He added that children are contributing to the fight against coronavirus due to their role in the cleanliness drive.Drawing a parallel with the 1942 Quit India movement, the PM said that there has been a ‘Bharat Chhodo’ mission going on in the country for the past six years including movements against use of plastic, against corruption, terrorism and for the promotion of cleanliness.The prime minister announced a week-long campaign from August 8 to 15 to free India of garbage.