In a remarkable outcome of the Centre’s recent cleanliness campaign, a revenue of over Rs 650 crore has been generated from the disposal of scrap materials, as reported in an official statement released on Saturday. This initiative was part of the broader Special Campaign 4.0, a significant push towards “swachhata” (cleanliness) and reducing bureaucratic backlog in government offices.

Ongoing Success of Cleanliness Campaigns from 2021-2024

Since 2021, the Indian government has been conducting annual cleanliness drives, which have now amassed Rs 2,364 crore from scrap disposal alone. According to Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh, the campaign reached its peak in 2024 with Special Campaign 4.0, which has been India’s most extensive drive yet to embed cleanliness in government institutions and optimize workspace.

Expansion and Impact of Special Campaign 4.0

Special Campaign 4.0 was operational from October 2 to October 31, 2024, covering more than 5.97 lakh locations an increase from the 2.59 lakh sites covered in 2023. These efforts have freed up 190 lakh square feet of office space, creating room for more efficient usage. The campaign adopted a “saturation approach,” inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on swachhata and clearing backlogs across government departments.

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Milestones, Best Practices, and Leadership Review

The campaign’s success was monitored daily on a dedicated portal, and its implementation was supported by cabinet ministers and secretaries, ensuring high-level oversight and accountability. Some notable best practices from the campaign include:

• Preservation Efforts: The Asiatic Society in Kolkata preserved a manuscript of the Ramayana.
• Art from Waste: The Ministry of Mines crafted art sculptures using scrap aluminium at JNARDCC in Nagpur.
• Scrap Art Projects: The Ministry of Railways crafted a 12.5-foot idol of Lord Ganesha from scrap materials in Raipur.
• Disposal of Contraband: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) disposed of over 105 lakh smuggled cigarette sticks, valued at Rs 8.7 crore.

Encouraging Continuous Cleanliness Efforts

With 90-100 percent target completion across departments, Singh encouraged officials to sustain the campaign’s momentum beyond October. Now that Special Campaign 4.0 has officially concluded, the evaluation phase is set to begin on November 14, with a focus on identifying key takeaways for maintaining cleanliness as a long-term institutional priority.

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