Special Swachhata Campaign 5.0 Marks New Milestone in Clean Governance Drive

In a major review held on October 27, 2025, a Group of Union Ministers assessed the ongoing progress of the Special Swachhata Campaign 5.0, which has evolved from a cleanliness initiative into a transformative governance reform. The high-level review was conducted by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Youth Affairs; and Shri Rammohan Naidu, Union Minister for Civil Aviation.

This landmark campaign, which commenced on October 2, 2025, will conclude on October 31, 2025, symbolically aligning with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, whose ideals of cleanliness and civic responsibility continue to inspire administrative reform in India.

From Cleanliness Drive to Institutional Reform

Highlighting the campaign's evolution, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that Special Swachhata Campaign 5.0 reflects a matured movement that now blends efficiency, transparency, sustainability, and economic value creation. "What started as a simple cleanliness campaign has now become a behavioral revolution, shaping how government offices manage files, grievances, and even waste," he said.

Dr. Singh noted that Special Campaign 5.0 is not a standalone activity but part of a larger institutional ethos, promoting Minimum Government, Maximum Governance, a vision championed by the Hon'ble Prime Minister.

Key Performance Metrics and Achievements (as of October 27, 2025):

• Total Sites Covered:

  • Out of the 7.56 lakh targeted sites, 5.57 lakh (73.7%) have already been cleaned.

• Revenue Generated from Scrap Disposal:

  • ₹387.4 crore raised through disposal of scrap and e-waste.

• Office Space Freed:

  • 148.19 lakh sq. ft. made available for productive use.

• Files Disposed/Weeded Out:

  • 19.21 lakh files processed and removed.

• Public Grievances Resolved:

  • 5.51 lakh cases addressed out of the 7.04 lakh targeted.

• Appeals Resolved:

  • 12,402 appeals processed from a targeted 17,402.

These figures underline the campaign's role in making government systems leaner, cleaner, and more responsive to citizens.

Waste to Wealth: Innovation at the Heart of Clean Governance

Dr. Singh emphasized the shift from mere sanitation to resource innovation, calling the Waste to Wealth component the campaign's most impactful addition. He highlighted a range of cutting-edge practices, such as:

• AIIMS initiative to recycle bio-laboratory waste into reusable materials.

• NGO partnerships turning used cooking oil into biofuel.

• Tata Steel collaborations that reuse steel plant by-products for eco-friendly road construction in Surat, Murai, and Arunachal Pradesh.

• Ministry of Coal's "Waste to Art" project creating scrap sculptures of the Char Dham temples, blending cultural heritage with sustainability.

These models are now being documented by the Ministry of Science and Technology and DARPG as best practices for replication across the government machinery.

Cross-Ministerial Participation and National Engagement

According to Mr. V. Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the nodal officer for the campaign, over:

• 84 Ministries/Departments have set measurable targets.

• 77 Ministries/Departments have uploaded performance data on the campaign portal.

• 13,780 tweets, 207 PIB press releases, and wide coverage on Doordarshan, Sansad TV, and All India Radio have ensured broad public engagement.

This level of participation reflects a whole-of-government approach, integrating administrative action with citizen awareness.

Public Grievance Redressal: The Backbone of Citizen-Centric Governance

The Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM), launched in 2021, continues to operate in parallel, ensuring that not just physical clutter but bureaucratic backlog is addressed. The Special Swachhata Campaign has become a vital mechanism for improving responsiveness, accountability, and ease of citizen interaction with government bodies.

Sustaining the Momentum Beyond October

Dr. Jitendra Singh urged Ministries and Departments to view the campaign not as an annual exercise but as a year-round administrative priority. He encouraged the mainstreaming of cleanliness and efficiency models, including:

• Digitization and file management reforms

• Creation of centralized grievance redressal dashboards

• Regular upcycling and waste reuse in procurement protocols

• Institutionalization of "green office" standards across government buildings

He concluded, "Swachhata is not just about keeping the surroundings clean. It is about cleaning systems, clearing processes, and simplifying governance."

A National Movement Reimagined

With its blend of behavioral change, policy innovation, environmental sustainability, and citizen focus, Special Campaign 5.0 represents a new model of governance. It is not just a success in terms of metrics but also in creating a culture of accountability and creative problem-solving within the government.

As India progresses toward becoming a $5 trillion economy, such campaigns will be vital in ensuring that administrative reforms keep pace with national ambitions, ensuring both efficiency and empathy in public service delivery.