Srinagar, September 22, 2026- As part of the ongoing Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2026 campaign, a special Swachhata Signature and Pledge initiative was organised on Monday at the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Complex in Srinagar, bringing together elected representatives and members of the House to reaffirm their commitment to cleanliness, collective responsibility, and sustained public participation.
CM, Ministers, Legislators Join Signature Initiative
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with Ministers, legislators, and other dignitaries, took part in the campaign and joined the signature drive at the Assembly Complex. The gathering underscored the message that Swachhata (cleanliness) must be treated as a shared responsibility woven into everyday life, rather than a one-time institutional gesture.
By participating directly, the Chief Minister and members of the House sought to set an example for citizens across the Union Territory, signalling that cleanliness initiatives require leadership at every level of governance.
Part of a Nationwide Movement
The Srinagar event forms part of the larger, nationwide SHS 2026 campaign, which is being observed from September 17 to October 2, 2026, under the theme “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat” (Participation in Cleanliness; Clean India, Developed India).
The campaign’s key focus areas include Jan Bhagidari (public participation), the transformation of Cleanliness Target Units and public spaces, youth engagement, welfare of sanitation workers, source segregation of waste, and Waste-to-Wealth initiatives aimed at converting waste management into an economic opportunity.
Assembly as a Platform for a Wider Message
Organisers noted that the participation of elected representatives at the Legislative Assembly offered a powerful platform to reinforce the idea that cleanliness transcends institutional boundaries and depends on the sustained involvement of citizens, communities, and public representatives alike.
The initiative also encouraged Members of the Legislative Assembly to carry the message of Swachhata back to their respective constituencies, promoting community-level cleanliness drives, responsible waste management, source segregation, and other sanitation-related activities at the grassroots.
Campaign Coordinated by Directorate of Rural Sanitation
The UT-wide SHS 2026 campaign is being coordinated by the Directorate of Rural Sanitation, and was formally launched at Block Khonmoh, Srinagar, on September 17, 2026.
At the launch event, Director General of Rural Sanitation, Anoo Malhotra, called for transforming cleanliness from a time-bound campaign into a sustained, everyday habit. She emphasised that Swachhata should have no defined beginning or end, but should instead become an ingrained part of public life and civic behaviour.
Bringing Democratic Institutions into the Movement
Monday’s campaign at the Legislative Assembly built further on this vision by bringing the principles of Jan Bhagidari, collective action, and behavioural change into the highest democratic forum of the Union Territory — reinforcing that policy leadership and grassroots participation must move in tandem.
Road Ahead
The SHS 2026 campaign will continue with a series of activities across Jammu and Kashmir over the coming days, with a focus on achieving visible cleanliness outcomes, encouraging citizen participation, engaging youth, ensuring the welfare of sanitation workers, strengthening waste management systems, and driving sustained behavioural change among the public.
The guiding theme, “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat,” continues to anchor the movement, with the collective participation of institutions, elected representatives, and citizens positioned at its core.
