AkshayaPatralaunches ‘SwacchVidyarthi, SwacchVidyalaya, SwacchGruha’initiative

The programme will reach out to educate more than 5 million people on health and hygiene in support of the ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyan’

Mumbai: In pursuance of the aspiration of Mahatma Gandhi for a clean India and in response to the call of the Honourable Prime Minister of India, ShriNarendraModi; The AkshayaPatra Foundation initiatedthe ‘SwacchVidyarthi, SwacchVidyalaya, SwacchGruha’ to achieve Swacch Bharat on Oct 2nd, 2017 at the HK Hill campus of ISKCON Bangalore.

Shri R. Ashok – Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and Ms SanjjanaaGalrani –renowned multilingual actress, record holder in the Limca Book of Records and south India’s Yoga brand ambassador, and Ms Sushruthi Krishna - Femina Miss India, first runner up 2016 were present at the occasion to extend their support.

The dignitaries present appreciated and encouraged AkshayaPatra’s initiative to impart the values of personal hygiene and cleanliness across all the schools. The programme was held in the presence of Shri.MadhuPanditDasa, Chairman, TheAkshayaPatra Foundation.

The stage event was followed by cleaning ofvariousimportant locations in Bengaluru. More than 1000 students from reputed colleges and educational institutions enthusiastically participated in the cleanliness drive.

Through ‘SwacchVidyarthi, SwacchVidyalaya, SwacchGruha’ initiative, the Foundation will strive to inculcate a culture of personal hygiene and cleanliness in a systematic manner over the next one year. This initiative will be carried out in 13,839 Government and Government-aided schools in 12 states of India, where AkshayaPatra is serving hot and nutritious mid–day meal to 1.66 million children. The Foundation aspires to reach out to more than 5 million people in support of the Clean India initiative. As a pilot project, AkshayaPatra is also planning to adopt about 100 government schools and contribute to the implementation of the SwacchVidyalaya programme.

In this noble cause to transform India, AkshayaPatra will engage college students and young professionals to volunteer and offer their time, energy and talents to impart the values of personal hygiene and cleanliness.

In a recent letter addressed to Shri. MadhuPanditDasa, the Honourable Prime Minister had wholeheartedly appreciated the contributions made by AkshayaPatra in feeding children across the country.

Shri.NarendraModi invited the Foundation to participate in the cleanliness initiatives of the Government and lend support and in achieving the ideals of ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’.

Speaking on the occasion,Shri.MadhuPanditDasasaid “AkshayaPatra will impress and sensitise the children and their families about the values of personal hygiene and cleanliness at schools and at their homes over the next one year through impactful short films, documentaries, street plays, music, role models, celebrity endorsements, contests, motivational talks and practical demonstrations. It will enable the children to grow up with these immaculate values, which will become their habits, and demand to create clean environments resulting in Swacch Bharat.I am thankful to our Honourable Prime Minister, Shri. NarendraModijifor the immense faith and trust reposed on us. On behalf of the entire AkshayaPatra team, I would like to assure him of our unflinching support and commitment towards achieving the vision of a clean India, where health and hygiene reside.”