Raksha Mantri Leads “Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath” Cleanliness Initiative

On 25 September 2025, Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) Shri Rajnath Singh spearheaded a special cleanliness initiative under the campaign Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath, cleaning army installations and encouraging staff participation.

The press note also states that various ministries, departments, and organizations across the central government observed the same drive under Swachhata Hi Seva 2025.

In parallel, the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL) organized one hour of shramdaan at APS Colony near PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 in Delhi, engaging students in cleanliness awareness, drives, and planting.

Under this campaign, tens of millions of students across India have participated, doing cleanliness pledges, campaigns and extension activities like waste awareness, painting, etc.

Background & Analysis:

Swachhata Hi Seva is an annual flagship campaign; “Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath” is a component encouraging each department to dedicate one hour on a chosen day for volunteer cleanliness.

The participation of high offices such as the Defence Ministry sends a signal about institutional commitment, beyond lip service.

However, symbolic exercises must translate into sustained behavioral change and systems (waste management, sanitation infrastructure) or else they remain superficial.

Implications / Way forward:

Ministries must adopt continuous practices (not just one-time events) — e.g. waste segregation, disposal protocols, green audits.

Schools can become nodes of culture change: instilling lifelong habits in children.

Monitoring, accountability, and regular evaluation must ensure such campaigns don’t become just tokenism.

Civic engagement by public servants helps set an example, but the push must include local bodies, municipalities, and citizens at scale.