On October 2 this year, one of the most important projects of Prime Minister Modi’s Government, which was launched on October 2, 2014, achieved a decade of transformative impact on the Bharat nation. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has become a movement which has made significant and visible improvements in how we look at cleanliness and hygiene culture. Incidentally, being clean and environmentally friendly has always been a part of Indian culture and way of life. Like so many valuable inheritances of our glorious past, we as a nation lost sight of the basic way of life and did not present a clean and organised look. We did not plan our towns and cities, and a sort of haphazard development took place in the country. We as a nation became materialistic in our approach, and cleanliness did not remain a priority as a way of life. But a lot has changed in the last decade. While a lot of agencies have contributed towards Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the sterling contribution of the Indian Army (Bhartiya Sena) stands out as a beacon of inspiration for others to emulate.
For a common Indian citizen, the Indian Army represents a disciplined force, always ready to defend the country from external aggression and internal threats. The Army also stays in military stations and cantonments across the length and breadth of the country, which number more than 250. In addition, a large chunk of the Army remains deployed in the border areas and remote corners of the country. For security reasons, the Army remains slightly away from the civilian population. At the same time, the Army undertakes a large number of people-friendly activities, be it the Know Your Army campaign or Training the Youth to join the Army or Medical Camps in remote areas. However, the Indian Army took the Swachh Bharat as a priority in its contribution towards nation-building.
Hygiene and sanitation, cleanliness, orderly layout and spic & span green environment are a way of life for the Indian Army. The challenge was to take this way of life to make a meaningful impact towards Swachh Bharat Abhiyan pan India. The Army decided to take this noble initiative through four pillars, namely through military stations and cantonments, through event management, in border areas and through a soldier. Many other activities have also been undertaken and a lot of silent contribution has been made by the Army. In this article, I am going to focus on the four pillars based on my military service experience.
At one point in time, military stations and cantonments were located on the outskirts or away from the main city or town. With urbanisation, the cities and towns have expanded and reached up to the military establishments. In some places, the urban pockets have grown all around the military stations. In the classical sense, the military stations are now accessible to the normal public. The well-laid military stations have inspired better and cleaner civilian neighbourhoods. The Army also helps in green and eco-friendly initiatives in civil areas, which have automatically improved overall hygiene & sanitation. The municipal bodies have also picked up a lot of good practices from the Army. So, the location of military stations amidst civilian areas has contributed significantly to Swachh Bharat.
Indian Army also conducts a large number of events primarily aimed at Swachh Bharat and the preservation of the environment. A number of public events are organised to sensitise the citizens and involve them in the cleanliness drive. Special focus is on educational institutions so that young citizens can be initiated into cleanliness as a way of life. The Army also coordinates such activities with like-minded NGOs and civil establishments. During my visits to formations under my command, I witnessed a distinct change in the attitude of the civil administration towards overall cleanliness standards in the workplace and public utility space. We still have to cover a lot of ground. For example, our railway stations have to improve a lot as far as hygiene and general cleanliness are concerned.
In the border areas, which are largely rural in nature, the Army has made a huge impact on the cleanliness and the infrastructure needed for high standards of sanitation. In coordination with many government and semi-government agencies, the villages in the border areas, be it in the west, north and east, present a vibrant look with the willing participation of the locals. The electrification of the villages and water supply during the Modi government has ensured a lot of good for the people. With basic facilities available, the people have been receptive to the Army initiatives for their growth and development. I had a chance to visit many such places in the remote areas where villages gave an organised look and feel. Interacting with the Sarpanch and the village leadership was always an enlightening experience in meeting happy and satisfied people in our countryside.
The most important tool in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is the silent soldiers, who mostly hail from rural backgrounds. The soldiers and the ex-servicemen have been the best ambassadors of the campaign to stay clean, healthy and fit. The soldiers and their families set a great example for their brethren who lived in the villages and towns. I have visited the homes of my soldiers in the state of J&K and found that they have taken extra pains to make Grameen Swachh Bharat a great success. I salute the contribution of the unsung soldier to be an important part of this noble mission.
I understand that as a nation, we have to cover a lot of ground to be clean and green to achieve world-class standards. It is heartening to know that the youth of the nation is aspirational and wants to lead a quality life. Indian Army has placed a lot of focus on empowering the youth towards the idea of Swachh Bharat. I am sanguine that the Indian Army will continue to set the standards of excellence in making India the most clean and green nation in the world.
