Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) organised a collective cleanliness drive at the foothills of Khandagiri on Thursday as part of Swachhata Hi Seva 2026, bringing public representatives, civic officials and employees together for a one-day, one-hour voluntary Shramdaan programme.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi participated in the cleanliness activity. Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, BMC Mayor Sulochana Das and BMC employees were also present during the programme.
The activity at Khandagiri formed part of the nationwide Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign, which places emphasis on citizen participation and collective responsibility for cleanliness. The campaign is being conducted under the theme “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat.”
Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 Focuses on Public Participation
The 2026 campaign includes several pillars, including the transformation of Cleanliness Target Units and public spaces, youth participation, SafaiMitra welfare, citizen engagement and initiatives linked to waste management and a circular economy.
The October 1 Shramdaan programme was part of the campaign’s collective cleanliness activity promoted as “Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath.” The initiative encourages people and institutions to participate directly in cleanliness activities rather than treating sanitation solely as the responsibility of civic agencies.
Khandagiri Becomes Focus of Bhubaneswar Cleanliness Drive
The Khandagiri area was the focus of Thursday’s BMC-led activity, with participants taking part in voluntary cleanliness work at the foothills of the historic site.
The participation of the Chief Minister, the Housing and Urban Development Minister, the local MLA, the BMC Mayor and municipal employees highlighted the civic administration’s involvement in the campaign in Bhubaneswar.
Swachhata Hi Seva is an annual cleanliness campaign that promotes collective action involving government institutions, local bodies, organisations and citizens. The 2026 campaign began on September 17 and includes activities aimed at improving public spaces, encouraging responsible waste management and strengthening community participation.
The Bhubaneswar programme at Khandagiri comes as the wider national campaign moves toward its concluding activities around October 2, when Swachhata-related programmes are being organised across the country.
For Bhubaneswar, the Khandagiri Shramdaan programme adds a local dimension to the wider Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign, with civic authorities and participants coming together around the shared objective of maintaining cleaner public spaces.
