Odisha to launch fortnight-long ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2025’ campaign

Bhubaneswar, Sept 13 (UNI) All Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Odisha will actively participate in the fortnight long Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2025 campaign from September 17 to October 2 under the spirit of ‘Swachh utsav’.

Since its inception in 2017, ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ has grown into a Jan Andolan (people’s movement), strengthening voluntarism and collective citizen action towards a clean and sustainable India.
Over the years, the campaign has expanded in scale and impact, inspiring millions of citizens to dedicate their time and effort to cleanliness in their surroundings.

This year, the nationwide campaign will begin on September 17, 2025, with a series of activities to encourage public participation.

The highlight will be the ‘Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath’ programme on September 25 at 8 am, when citizens across the country will dedicate one hour to ‘shramdaan’, reinforcing the message that cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility.

The campaign will conclude on October 2, observed as Swachh Bharat Diwas on Mahatma Gandhi’s Jayanti. According to official sources, the key focus areas of SHS 2025 include, transformation of Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs), identification, mapping, and time-bound clearance of difficult and dirty spots across ULBs in the state.
It will also ensure high standards of cleanliness in institutions, establishments, markets, and high-footfall areas.

This apart, health check-up camps for sanitation workers will be organised linking them with welfare schemes to ensure their safety and dignity.

Under the Clean Green Utsav promotion of eco-friendly practices, waste segregation, and zero-waste celebrations and public gatherings will be held during the festivals.
Campaigns on Waste to Art initiatives, Clean Street Food drives, and promotion of RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Centres to strengthen circular economy practices will also be organised.

The Housing and Urban Development Department has directed all ULBs to mobilise resident welfare associations, self-help groups (SHGs), community-based organisations, market associations, school and college students, and youth volunteers to participate in large numbers.

Principal Secretary of the department Usha Padhee said, “Swachhata Hi Seva is not just a campaign, but a people’s festival of responsibility. ‘Swachhotsav’ embodies the spirit of community participation, dignity of labour, and environmental consciousness,” she said.