Dharmendra Pradhan Leads Sambalpur Cleanliness Drive; 1 Lakh Join

“Cleanliness Is Service”

“Cleanliness is service. This is a very important campaign,” Pradhan said. “This is a sign of cleanliness, a way of living a disciplined life, and we should adopt it.”

He urged people to extend cleanliness beyond their homes to neighbourhoods and public spaces.

Why It Matters: The Plastic Problem

The most important message of the day was not about sweeping. Pradhan raised concern about the heavy use of single-use plastic in Sambalpur, warning that it seriously harms the environment, and that harming the environment ultimately harms society itself.

That points to a deeper truth about cleanliness drives: a single morning can clear streets, but without changing daily habits, especially plastic use, the waste returns. The campaign aims to turn cleanliness into a regular practice rather than a one-day event.

Simple Ways to Cut Single-Use Plastic

• Carry a cloth bag for shopping.
• Use a reusable water bottle.
• Say no to plastic straws and disposable cutlery.
• Segregate wet and dry waste at home.

The Bottom Line

Sambalpur showed what one lakh people can do in a morning. Keeping it clean, as Pradhan stressed, will depend on what they do every day after.

With inputs from IANS.