New Delhi, Oct 25: The ongoing “Swachhata” campaign, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has not only raised awareness about the ‘waste to wealth’ concept but has also significantly contributed to generating mass understanding about the application of innovation and technology for recycling and reusing waste materials. This was said by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, during a press conference held today to review the progress of Week-3 of the Swachhata Special Campaign 3.0 being implemented across all Government offices in India.
Dr Jitendra advocated the integration of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Drones to intelligently segregate waste and ensure swift disposal of resulting materials. He highlighted the potential of an Artificial Intelligence-driven module for smart waste segregation, supported by robots for loading onto drones, ensuring efficient and automated waste management.
Underlining the value of every piece of garbage, the union minister announced the launch of the ‘Recycling on Wheels’ bus by the Department of Science and Technology, Technology Development Board, and CSIR. This mobile initiative aims to generate wealth from waste at various locations due to its mobility, bringing the concept of ‘Waste to Wealth’ to different parts of the country.
Additionally, Dr Singh praised the collaborative efforts of the Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) in developing the Repurposed Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) van, which collects used cooking oil and converts it into biofuel, thereby promoting sustainable practices and reducing environmental impact.
During the press conference, Dr Jitendra highlighted the significant revenue generated by the government through the disposal of scrap materials in the Swachhata campaigns. He informed that a total revenue of Rs. 776 crore has been earned in the last three years, with a remarkable Rs. 176 crore generated in the initial 20 days of the ongoing Special Campaign 3.0.
The minister commended the success of the Swachhata campaign, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. He outlined the campaign’s evolution, from the construction of toilets for women’s empowerment to the disposal of redundant files, cleaning e-scrap, and the current focus on wealth generation from waste materials.
The ongoing Special Campaign 3.0 has witnessed active participation across Ministries/Departments and their field/area offices. Dr Jitendra Singh urged a saturation approach in the campaign’s implementation, covering all outstation offices, defense establishments, and PSUs nationwide. The progress of Special Campaign 3.0 is monitored through a dedicated portal (https://scdpm.nic.in/), with regular review meetings ensuring its effectiveness. The campaign concludes on October 31st, 2023, initiating the evaluation phase in the first week of November, marking a significant step toward transforming waste into wealth and innovation.
