Taking the Central Government’s ambitious cleanliness drive to a higher trajectory, President Ram Nath Kovind today kicked off the fortnight-long 'Swachhta Hi Seva' (Cleanliness is Service) campaign from Uttar Pradesh.
The campaign, aimed at highlighting the Narendra Modi government's flagship cleanliness initiative 'Swachh Bharat Mission', was launched from Ishwari Ganj village near Kanpur.
The president also made people take a pledge to keep their surroundings clean.
President Kovind also had a word of praise for those women who refused to marry into homes without any toilets.
He also appreciated actors Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar for their support to the cause.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik expressed it was more important for a household to have a toilet than a place of worship.
The UP government has been associated with the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan and has constructed 10 lakh toilets so far.
The target is to construct 78 lakh toilets by December 31, 2017 and make the state Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October, 2018.
Total of four districts - Shamli, Bijnor, Hapur and Ghaziabad - had been made open defecation free.
By December 31, 2017, 30 districts would be brought under the ODF category, and by October next year, all the 75 districts in the state will become open defecation free.
The Doordarshan will also broadcast a world premiere of the film 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' on September 17.
On October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, which is also the Swachh Bharat Diwas, awards for essays, short film and painting competitions will be given.
