Jammu, July 30: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a comprehensive meeting to strategize the extensive ‘Swachhta Pakhwada,’ a 15-day cleanliness and environmental program set to culminate on Independence Day across the Union Territory. The meeting, which included Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, Deputy Commissioners, Heads of Departments, and Principals of Medical Colleges, focused on planning and coordinating the program’s activities. Outstation officers joined the discussion via video conferencing.
Chief Secretary Dulloo emphasized the importance of active community involvement in the two-week initiative and urged the Divisional and District administrations to ensure broad participation. He stressed the need for exemplary coordination among departments and directed the creation of a dedicated portal for tracking and assessing the tangible outcomes of the program’s activities.
Dulloo instructed the Divisional administrations to review and refine the action plans for their respective districts, advising on strategies to avoid duplication of activities and enhance their effectiveness. He also called for each district to appoint a dedicated Nodal Officer for each planned activity, ensuring smooth implementation.
The Chief Secretary underscored the necessity of extending the cleanliness and plantation drives to every corner of Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted the ‘Ek Ped Shahidon Ke Naam’ program, urging the Forest Department to ensure the availability of planting materials in every district. The Forest Department is set to organize 600 events under this program, focusing on plantation and the cleaning of forest, wildlife areas, and public spaces under their jurisdiction.
The Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) and the Rural Development Department (RDD) have been designated as the nodal departments for implementing the program in urban and rural areas, respectively. The Forest Department will support these efforts by providing necessary plantation materials.
Additionally, the meeting covered the planned activities, including massive plantation drives and cleanliness campaigns. The RDD will lead a ‘Plastic Lao, Thaila Le Jao’ campaign, encouraging the public to exchange plastic waste for biodegradable bags. Various educational institutions will participate through debates, discussions, quizzes, painting competitions, and sporting events aimed at raising awareness about cleanliness and environmental issues.
Swachhta pledges will be a key feature of the program, with participants making commitments to uphold cleanliness and environmental standards. The initiative aims to foster a culture of hygiene and environmental responsibility across the Union Territory.
