The Ministry of Heavy Industries observed Swachhata Pakhwada, a national cleanliness campaign, from 16th to 31st August 2026. The two-week drive involved ministry staff, government-owned enterprises, and autonomous bodies working together to promote hygiene and environmental responsibility across workplaces and public spaces.
What happened during the campaign
On 16th August 2026, Shri Kamran Rizvi, Secretary of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, administered the Swachhata Pledge to officers and officials, marking the formal start of the initiative. Shri Vijay Mittal, Joint Secretary, recognised and felicitated sanitation and support staff for their contributions to maintaining clean workplaces.
The Ministry undertook several activities during the fortnight:
- Cleaning drives in all rooms, staircases, corridors and common areas at GPOA-3, the ministry headquarters
- Removal of old furniture, computers, printers and obsolete items to declutter workspaces
- An essay writing competition held on 21st August 2026 on the theme of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), a major government-owned company under the ministry, carried out cleanliness and housekeeping drives, waste segregation, drain cleaning, and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems across its manufacturing units and offices. BHEL also undertook public cleanliness work, including bus-stop cleaning at Tiruchirappalli, beach cleaning at Palavakkam in Chennai, and railway-track cleaning at Hyderabad.
Other government enterprises under the ministry also participated. The International Centre for Automotive Technology organised workplace cleaning and waste awareness programmes. NEPA Limited conducted cleanliness audits and housekeeping competitions. Bridge and Roof Company, Hindustan Salts Limited, Instrumentation Limited and HMT Limited all undertook cleaning drives, tree planting and waste disposal activities. The National Automotive Board organised awareness programmes and competitions for school students.
What this means for you
If you work in government offices or public sector enterprises, you can expect similar cleanliness campaigns to be conducted regularly as part of the national Swachh Bharat Mission. The emphasis on recognising sanitation workers highlights the importance of this profession in maintaining public health. School students and the general public may also be invited to participate in cleanliness activities and competitions in their communities.