Jammu city pulsed with purpose today, September 29, 2025, as Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spearheaded the Swachhata Hi Sewa Campaign’s grand finale at the Convention Centre, rallying residents for a cleaner, healthier future. The event, part of the national Swachh Bharat Abhiyan marking its 10th year, saw Sinha join volunteers in a cleanliness march from the centre to nearby parks, emphasizing community involvement in waste management and hygiene. “Swachhata is not a seasonal drive – it’s a way of life that starts with each of us,” Sinha said, addressing a crowd of over 1,000, including school children, officials, and local leaders. The Vijayostav, a celebration of cleanliness achievements, highlighted Jammu’s progress, with the Lt Gov awarding top-performing wards and schools for their efforts in reducing plastic use and promoting segregation.
The campaign, running from September 14 to 29, focused on door-to-door awareness in urban areas like Gandhi Nagar and rural pockets in Kathua and Udhampur, distributing bins and educating on composting. Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Commissioner Rahul Mahajan reported a 25% rise in waste collection since the drive began, crediting public participation. Sinha planted saplings at the centre and launched a mobile app for reporting garbage hotspots, tying it to the government’s push for smart cities. “Jammu’s beauty deserves zero litter – let’s make it happen,” he added, urging youth to lead the change.
The finale featured cultural performances by students from Government Higher Secondary School in Jammu, blending folk songs with messages on hygiene. Rural outreach teams from Doda and Reasi shared success stories, like village-level recycling drives that cut open dumping by half. The event, attended by Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar Vaishali, underscored the campaign’s impact amid flood recovery, where waste management became critical to prevent disease outbreaks. Social media trended with #SwachhataHiSewa, showing before-and-after photos of cleaned spots.
For Jammu, the drive is timely, addressing urban litter from tourism and rural waste from agriculture. Challenges like funding shortages persist, but Sinha promised Rs 10 crore for JMC’s waste plants. As the campaign wraps, the call is clear – cleanliness as collective duty.