Jharkhand CM's 'padyatra' to spread cleanliness awareness

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Sunday led a cleanliness awareness padyatra in Ranchi, urging residents to take greater responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean and preventing diseases.

Das began the campaign at Argora roundabout, where he interacted with local shopkeepers and other residents before taking part in a cleanliness drive himself.

The Chief Minister picked up a broom and swept a stretch of road, using the exercise to underline the importance of public participation in maintaining cleanliness.

“Let us come and take a vow to make India clean and healthy. We can prevent our family members from many diseases by keeping our surroundings clean,” Das said while appealing to people to make cleanliness a part of their daily lives.

The initiative was held in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swachhata Seva Abhiyan’, launched on Saturday as part of efforts to strengthen awareness about sanitation and encourage citizens to contribute to cleanliness drives.

Das's padyatra aimed to take the cleanliness message beyond government programmes and encourage people, particularly shopkeepers and residents, to actively participate in keeping public spaces clean.

Rajya Sabha member Ramvichar Netam and Ranchi Mayor Asha Lakra accompanied the Chief Minister during the campaign.

The programme highlighted the role of community participation in improving sanitation and creating healthier public spaces, with the administration encouraging citizens to treat cleanliness as a shared responsibility rather than only a government duty.