New Delhi: Centre is targeting timebound & targeted transformation of around two lakhs very difficult and dirty spots during the ‘Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S)’ 2024 campaign, theme of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) for this year. These Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) - स्वच्छ ता लक्षित एकाई is the key highlight of this year campaign and involves identification of CTUs and mapping through a portal. This was announced by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal and Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C R Patil at the curtain raiser event of the campaign, held at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi today.

The ministers informed that Central PSUs, Industry partners and NGOs are being encouraged to adopt CTUs. The campaign includes mega cleanliness drives at various sites like tourist locations, public buildings, commercial areas, community toilets, public toilets, water bodies, zoos, sanctuaries through shramdaan & collective action.

All Central Ministries and States are planning various citizen engagement activities. The campaign is set to rollout from 17th Sept and will culminate on 2nd Oct., 2024, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, in his address, said that the campaign, this year, takes big leap from ‘Cleanliness is Service’ to ‘Cleanliness as Swabhav & Sanskaar’ of each individual of the society. He said that being the world’s largest Jan Andolan, this campaign is just a medium to put forward the whole of society and whole of government front to set an example at the global level altogether.

The minister informed that there are approximately 2,300 dumpsites in urban areas with 22 Crore Metric Tons of waste out of which 427 Crore dumpsites with 9 Crore metric tons of waste has been completely remediated, and land reclaimed is 4,500 acres. He said that the Mission aims at making the shift from door to door to collection to 100% processing.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C R Patil said that over 93 percent women in the country have access to toilets and as per recent WHO report, the mission has reduced infant mortality by around three lakhs during first five years on the mission. Shri Patil said that in 2014, Swachh Bharat Mission announced from the ramparts of Red Fort in Delhi by PM Narendra Modi, has become a Jan Andolan for behaviour change and is now globally identified as a powerful intervention for infant mortality, disease reduction, and improved livelihood opportunities.

MoS, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs Shri Tokhan Sahu alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Rural development, Ministry of Panchayati Raj and state governments were present during the event.

A Decade of Transformative Swachhata Efforts

The SBM campaign, which was first launched on 2nd October 2014 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, embodies a ‘Whole of Society’ approach, making sanitation ‘everyone’s business’.

The campaign aims to inspire a shift towards fostering sustainable behavioural change, integrating cleanliness into daily habits, and promoting public participation in maintaining a clean and healthy environment.

On Independence Day this year, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi reiterated how Swachhata has become a key part of Indian society, driving transformative changes across the country.

This year’s campaign is being celebrated under the theme ‘Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S)’ and will run from 17th September to 2nd October 2024, marking the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Key Pillars of the Campaign

This year’s Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) 2024 campaign is built around three core pillars:

 1. Swachhata Ki Bhaagidari – Public participation, awareness, and advocacy for Swachh Bharat.

 2. Sampoorna Swachhata – Mega cleanliness drives targeting difficult and dirty spots (Cleanliness Target Units).

 3. SafaiMitra Suraksha Shivir – Single-window service, safety, and recognition camps for sanitation workers’ welfare and health.

‘Whole of Society’ and ‘Whole of Government’ Approach

The campaign, embracing the ‘Whole of Society’ approach, will actively engage citizens, industries, NGOs, development organizations, urban local bodies, panchayats, and various stakeholders. Additionally, through the ‘Whole of Government’ approach, all States, Union Territories, Chief Ministers, Central Ministries, and local bodies will participate to ensure a truly nationwide movement for cleanliness.

As the campaign move closer to Swachh Bharat Diwas, the campaign will continue to build momentum, fostering greater public participation, driving awareness, and contributing to a cleaner and healthier India, stated a press release.