In an impressive display of turning waste into wealth, India’s ‘Swacchata’ campaign has yielded approximately ₹600 crore in revenue through the sale of discarded and scrap items. This ambitious initiative aims to reach a staggering ₹1,000 crore in revenue by October.
As reported by News18, the campaign has already managed to generate ₹600 crore in revenue by selling waste, which includes weeded-out files, discarded equipment, and obsolete vehicles. The next revenue milestone of ₹1,000 crore is expected to be achieved following the completion of the ‘Swacchata’ campaign next month.
During the campaign, a significant cleanup effort has been underway, resulting in the removal of around 50 lakh files, the freeing up of 172 lakh square feet of office space, and the resolution of 31.35 lakh public grievances cases during the second phase of the cleanliness campaign.
Aside from the financial gains, the cleanliness drive is set to liberate approximately 100 lakh square feet of office space during the forthcoming month-long third phase of the campaign.
Launched for the first time in October 2021, the ‘Swacchata’ campaign prioritizes cleanliness, including efficient disposal of scrap and reducing pending matters in government departments.
About Special Campaign 3.0 of Swacchata Drive
The upcoming third phase of the ‘Swacchata’ campaign, known as the special campaign 3.0, is scheduled to run from October 2 to October 31 across all government departments. V Srinivas, Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), highlighted the success of the previous campaign phases and noted that it has been institutionalized with ministries and departments conducting the Swachhata campaign for three hours per week throughout the year.
The cleanliness drive has made significant progress over the past phases, having been conducted at 1.37 lakh sites and generating ₹520 crore from scrap items. It is anticipated that by October 31, 2023, a cumulative revenue of ₹1,000 crore will be realized from the disposal of office scrap.
The preparatory phase of the third campaign, starting on September 14 and lasting until September 30, will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh. During this phase, departments will identify pending references and campaign sites for cleanliness. Subsequently, these departments will mobilize their workforce to achieve their set targets.
The ‘Swacchata’ campaign has not only proven to be financially rewarding but has also introduced innovative practices and systemic reforms, fostering a conducive work environment. This initiative serves as a remarkable example of how concerted efforts can transform waste into valuable resources while promoting cleanliness and efficiency.
