Interfaith unity: Prominent religious leaders join mega cleanliness drive in Chandigarh

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], October 1 : Prominent religious leaders representing different faiths came together on Sunday and participated in a mega cleanliness drive organised by Chandigarh Welfare Trust (CWT) at Shivalik Park in Chandigarh's Manimajra. 
The religious leaders belonging to Muslim, Hindu, Islam and Christianity unanimously resolved to awaken the society through their discourses and contribute towards PM Modi’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ vision and lead India as a global example of cleanliness.
The day-long mega cleanliness drive was held in collaboration with Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on PM Modi’s call for ‘Shramdaan for Swachhata’ as ‘Swachhanjali’ to Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) under the theme ‘Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath’. 
The drive was also a part of CWT’s ‘Sewa Pakhwada’ which began on the 73rd birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17. The mega cleanliness drive was flagged off from Upal Arc flats near Shani Mandir in Manimajra by CWT founder Satnam Singh Sandhu and Chandigarh MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra. 
Afterwards, the drive was carried out at Manimajra’s Car Bazar, Motor Market and concluded at Shivalik Park where leaders belonging to different faiths joined together and took part in cleanliness. The drive received a huge response and participants also took a pledge to make a commitment towards cleanliness and devote time to it.
CWT brought together the religious leaders believing that one of the best ways to address the issues of sanitation and hygiene is to bring faith leaders and communities to work together towards the common goal. The drive also aimed to bring multifaith solidarity to make India a clean and hygienic society.
The day-long cleanliness drive was aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of Swachhata and hygienic surroundings. As many as 2000 volunteers, and Safai Karamcharis, and scores of residents of Manimajra participated in the cleanliness drive.
The religious and community leaders emphasized how all faiths and spiritualities teach the duty to care for the human family and for the environment in which it lives. They also hailed PM Modi for taking the vision of cleanliness and hygiene forward at an unprecedented level during the last nine years.
Speaking at the occasion, CWT founder, Satnam Singh Sandhu said that every religion has traditionally expressed ethical importance and concern for cleanliness and hygiene and the role of religious and spiritual leaders is very crucial in promoting the idea of cleanliness and hygiene.
“The nine years of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ – one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priority policy goals – has achieved a significant milestone in both urban and rural aspects and brought comprehensive revolutionary transformation in sanitation that has changed the face of India. PM Modi accorded the highest priority to Swachhta. It is for the first time in Indian history that any Prime Minister brought the subject of cleanliness, sanitation, and hygiene in the context of India's social system and gave it central importance,” said Satnam Singh Sandhu.
He also said, “PM Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014 immediately after he took office and in the last nine years sanitation has become a vibrant mass movement and citizens rallied behind his visionary leadership. Under this mission, 12 crore toilets have been built in the last nine years, liberating the country from the scourge of open defecation and 75 per cent of the total villages have achieved the Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status.”
“PM Modi government has ensured access to safe and clean drinking water for all through Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and at present, 12 Crore rural households have access to clean drinking tap water in comparison to 3.23 Crore households in 2014,” said Satnam Singh Sandhu.