VPA launches ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2026’ drive
The Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) on Wednesday launched the “Swachhata Hi Seva 2026” fortnight-long campaign at its head office here, in keeping with the nationwide theme “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat.”
According to a release, the initiative seeks to boost community participation, promote public hygiene, and encourage sustainable waste management practices. The proceedings began with a mass cleanliness drive around the Administrative Office Building.
Officials said the campaign, conducted in line with Central government guidelines, will focus on four thrust areas — identifying and transforming hard-to-clean spots into model units, involving youth through Swachh Paathshala programmes, organising health camps for sanitation workers (SafaiMitras), and mobilising public participation on a large scale.
Three dates have been earmarked as milestones during the fortnight: the formal launch on September 17, a nationwide one-hour cleanliness drive titled “Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath” on October 1, and the concluding event on Swachh Bharat Diwas, October 2.
Port stakeholders, trade union representatives, stevedores, and students from local institutions are set to take part in daily sanitation drives, tree plantation programmes, and awareness campaigns across the port city throughout the course of the campaign.