Swaccha Bharat Mission has turned into a Rashtra Dharma: Sonowal

This Abhiyan has truly revolutionized the countrymen, said Sonowal while taking part in a cleanliness drive at Kamakhya Mandir campus, which was organized on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti by Kamrup Metro District Administration in joint association with Kamakhya Mandir Committee, Guwahati Municipal Corporation, Public Health Engineering Department and an NGO named Kridha Bharati.

Paying deep tribute to the 'Father of the Nation', the Assam CM said that Mahatma Gandhiji’s ideals continue to inspire every Indian. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an attempt has been initiated to take Gandhiji’s ideals to every household.

Stating SBM as a reflection of that effort, Sonowal said that Gandhiji always aspired to make a developed and clean India and believed that cleanliness was next to godliness.
        
Sonowal further said that every citizen of the state must strive hard to make a clean Assam. Cleanliness doesn’t mean keeping our environment clean only. It encompasses physical, mental, spiritual cleanliness also.

He urged everyone to join hands in making Assam as the cleanest state of the nation.

Alongwith Governor of Assam Banwarilal Purohit, the cleanliness drive was also attended by state Cultural Affairs Minister Naba Kumar Doley, Guwahati East MLA Siddhartha Bhattacharyya, Howraghat MLA Joyram Engleng, GMC Mayor Mrigen Sarania, Chief Secretary Vinod Kumar Pipersenia, DGP Mukesh Sahay, ex-MLA Jadav Deka, Doloi Kabindra Sharma and other top officials of state government.

 
The Assam CM also visited the Gandhi Mandap in the morning today and offered floral tribute at Gandhiji’s statue.

Later he took part in an all religion prayer meet and a meeting organized by Kampur Metro District Administration in association with Directorate of Cultural Affairs.

Speaking on the occasion, the Assam CM announced that the state government will soon take steps to install a new statue of the Father of the Nation at Gandhi Mandap and a Watch Tower alongwith other tourist friendly measures at the site to promote the area for tourism. In the same meeting, two Gaon Panchayats namely Garal GP and Chandrapur GP were declared as Open Defecation Free (ODF).
          
Sonowal also participated in a meeting organized by State Khadi and Gramodyog Board at Chandmari and spoke about the need to revive the Khadi industry in the state.

State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma also spoke on the occasion.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)