New Delhi. The central government of the country is targeting to convert about two lakh difficult and dirty places this year under the theme of 'Swabhav Swachhata Sanskar Swachhata' under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Sanitation Targeted Unit (CTU) is the highlight of this year's campaign and it includes identification of CTUs and mapping through a portal. This was announced by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal and Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil at the campaign's curtain raiser event held at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi today.

During the event held in New Delhi, it was informed that Central PSUs, Industry partners and NGOs are being encouraged to adopt CTU. The campaign includes mega cleanliness drives at various sites through Shramdaan at tourist places, public buildings, commercial areas, community toilets, public toilets, water bodies, zoos, sanctuaries.

Also, all central ministries and states are planning various citizen engagement activities. The campaign is scheduled to begin on September 17 and end on October 2, 2024, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.

In his address, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal said that this year's campaign is a big step forward from 'Swachhata Seva Hai' to adopt cleanliness as 'Swabhaav aur Sanskaar' of every individual of the society. He said that being the world's largest mass movement, this campaign is only a medium to put forward the whole of the society and the whole front of the government together to set an example at the global level. He informed that there are about 2,300 dumpsites in urban areas containing 22 crore metric tonnes of waste, out of which 9 crore metric tonnes of waste has been completely remediated in 427 dumpsites and 4,500 acres of land has been reclaimed.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil said more than 93 per cent of women in the country have access to toilets. According to a recent WHO report, infant mortality rate has come down by nearly three lakhs in five years. Patil said Swachh Bharat Mission, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ramparts of Red Fort in Delhi in 2014, has become a people's movement and is now recognised globally as a powerful tool for reducing infant mortality, disease and better livelihood opportunities.

Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu was accompanied by 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 during the programme.