“Cleanliness is Next to Godliness”: President Murmu

• President Murmu presented Swachh Survekshan awards in New Delhi.
• Emphasized learning from traditional lifestyles for modern circularity.
• Stressed source segregation as the first step in waste management.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 17th July: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday presented the Swachh Survekshan awards at a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in New Delhi. During the event, President Murmu underscored that modern systems of circularity could be significantly strengthened by drawing lessons from traditional lifestyles.

Speaking on the occasion, the President lauded Swachh Survekshan as a successful initiative for assessing and encouraging cleanliness efforts across Indian cities. She expressed satisfaction that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs conducted the world’s largest cleanliness survey for 2024, engaging approximately 14 crore citizens, various stakeholders, state governments, and urban bodies.

President Murmu highlighted that cleanliness has been a deeply ingrained part of India’s cultural and spiritual consciousness since ancient times, with traditions emphasizing hygiene in homes, places of worship, and surroundings. Recalling Mahatma Gandhi’s adage, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” she noted his view of cleanliness as fundamental to religion, spirituality, and civic life. The President shared her personal journey into public service, which began with overseeing cleanliness as Vice President of a Notified Area Council.

Embracing Traditional Wisdom for Modern Circularity
The President further elaborated that minimizing waste through minimal resource use and re-purposing has always been an intrinsic part of the traditional Indian lifestyle. She stated that the modern principles of a circular economy, encompassing reduce-reuse-recycle, are essentially widespread forms of ancient practices. As an example, she cited the simple lifestyle of tribal communities, who use fewer resources, live in harmony with nature, and avoid wasting natural resources. President Murmu suggested that adopting such behaviors and traditions could bolster modern circularity systems.

She identified source segregation as the first and most crucial step in the waste management value chain, urging all stakeholders and households to prioritize it. The success of “zero-waste colonies” was presented as a commendable example of this approach.

The President also commended the “School Level Assessment” initiative, which aims to instill cleanliness as a core life value in students, predicting its beneficial and far-reaching results.

Tackling Plastic and Electronic Waste
Addressing environmental challenges, President Murmu highlighted the significant hurdles posed by controlling plastic and electronic waste and preventing the pollution they cause. She expressed confidence that dedicated efforts could substantially reduce the country’s plastic emissions. She referenced the central government’s 2022 ban on certain single-use plastic items and the guidelines issued in the same year for Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging. The President stressed that producers, brand owners, and importers bear the responsibility for fully adhering to these guidelines.

Concluding her address, President Murmu affirmed that cleanliness efforts encompass economic, cultural, and geographical dimensions. She conveyed her strong belief that all citizens would wholeheartedly participate in the Swachh Bharat Mission, expressing confidence that with well-considered and robust resolutions, a developed India by 2047 would emerge as one of the cleanest nations globally.