PM leads mega cleanliness drive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for blending fitness and well-being with cleanliness, as he led a nationwide cleanliness drive as part of the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti on Sunday.

- Saptarshi Das

Wielding a broom, the Prime Minister took part in an hourlong "shramdaan" along with fitness influencer Ankit Baiyanpuriya. In a four-minute video on X, formerly Twitter, Modi said: "Today, as the nation focuses on Swachhata, Ankit Baiyanpuriya and I did the same! Beyond just cleanliness, we blended fitness and well-being also into the mix. It is all about that Swachh and Swasth Bharat vibe!"

In a recent episode of his monthly radio broadcast Mann ki Baat, the Prime Minister had appealed for "one hour of shramdaan for swachhata" on October 1 by all citizens, saying it would be a "swachhanjali" to Mahatma Gandhi on the eve of his birth anniversary.

According to the Union housing and urban affairs ministry, more than 920,000 sites across the country were adopted for the mega drive.