Several programmes organised across nation marking two years of 'Swacch Bharat Mission'

New Delhi [India], Oct. 2 (ANI): Several programmes are being organised across the country to mark 'Swacch Bharat Mission' which completes two years today. The programme was launched on Gandhi Jayanti Day in 2014 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a clarion call on the Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort to make India clean by 2019 which will coincide with 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He had said that Cleanliness and sanitation were very close to the heart of Father of the Nation and it is social responsibility of every citizen to help fulfill Gandhiji's vision of Clean India. Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu flagged off a swachatta rally at India Gate. Naidu along with Communication Minister Manoj Sinha released a special stamp on Swachh Bharat. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will administer Swachhata pledge at Central Park in Connaught Place in New Delhi. 35 districts including Porbandar, birth place of Mahatma Gandhi and about one lakh villages will be declared Open Defecation Free. Community led mass cleaning campaigns will be organised all over the country. In the run up to the event, several programmes like Cleanliness week, Swachhata Pakhwada and India Sanitation conference were organised. Over the two years, the mission has gathered momentum and it has become a mass movement. (ANI)