Shri Alphons Kannanthanam, Minister of
State (Independent charge) for Tourism has said that the Ministry of Tourism observed
‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ during 16th September to 2nd October,
2017 by organizing various cleanliness activities/programmes
at the premises of its offices/ educational institutions/ prominent tourist
places etc.All educational institutes under Ministry of Tourism adopt at least
one tourist place to maintain cleanliness in a sustainable way. Address media
persons at a Press Conference here today, he said that the Prime Minister called upon the nation to
begin a campaign, ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’, ‘Cleanliness is Service’, from 15th
September to 2nd October 2017 which coincided with the
“Swachhta Pakhwada” of M/o Tourism. Ministry had organised Swachhta Drive at
various tourist/pilgrim places all over the country through the its Indiatourism
offices. The campaign had been organised at more than 80 places all over the
country during the period which was kick started at Juhu Beach on 15th
September,2017. Besides, major clean-up activities, pledge swearing, awareness
activities, essay competition, nuked natak etc were organised during the
campaign.
The Minister said that he himself volunteered
various cleanliness activities at India Gate on 17th September, 2017,
at Janpath Market on the World Tourism Day (27th Se4ptember, 2017 and
at Smith village, Shillong, Meghalaya on 30th Se4ptember, 2017. Officers
of Ministry of Tourism as well as Students from Institutes of Hotel Management
(IHM) were also present. The cleanliness activities carried out by the the
Minister at various spots drew the attention of visitors as well as
shopkeepers/ vendors and conveyed the importance of maintaining the places
clean to the public. Minister interacted with the visitors as well as
shopkeepers and urged everyone to contribute to make the country clean and
Beautiful. He also administered the Swachhta Pledge to all participants at
these places.
Shri. Ravi Kishan,
Indian Film actor at Juhu Beach, Shri Sarath Kumar, Tamil Film Actor, Shri
Sudarshan Pattnaik, Sand Artist, Sri Ramakrishnan, actor and Director, Tamil
Film Industry, Chief Minister, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Shri Resul Pookutty,
film sound designer, Prof. Amita Dutt, Shiksha Ratan Award Winner, Shri Prabhat
Goswami, Famous National Award Winner Assamese Folk Music Composer, Shri Anupam
Shyam, Film & TV Actor, Shri S. Vc. Shekar, Tamil Cine Director &
Actor, Shri Saidai Sa. Duraisamy, Mayor of Chennai, Shri Sourabh Kant
Shrivastava costume designer Padamshree Shri Bhatchandra D. Mondhe, Dr. R.
Nataraj, IPS, former Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, Ms Sagarika Goswami,
Shri Kopil Bora, Assamese Actor, Ms. Sheila Bora, Chairperson, INTACH, Shri
Tapi Mara, Mountaineer, and Ms. Amala Akkineni, film actress, were some of the Celebrities
who participated in the campaign organised by Ministry of Tourism.
The Minister informed the media persons
that the Ministry of Tourism, in close collaboration with Ministry of Culture
and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), envisages developing heritage sites
and making them tourist friendly to enhance their tourism potential and
cultural importance, in a planned and phased manner. Accordingly, on World
Tourism Day celebrated on 27th September, 2017 launched “Adopt a Heritage”
with the aim to encourage Industry and other stakeholders to take up
responsibility for making our heritage and tourism more sustainable through
conservation and development of our cultural and natural heritage sites. The
project focuses on providing basic amenities that include cleanliness, public
conveniences, drinking water, ease of access for Tourists, signage etc. and
advanced amenities like cafeteria, surveillance system, tourist facilitation
centre, illumination etc., in and around the heritage sites and monuments.
A film on “Swachhta” was also launched
during the Celebration of ‘World Tourism Day’. The cleanup activities undertaken
during the campaign at Velankanni Church, Chennai by the Regional Director,
South have also been recognised by Ministry of Drinking water with an award.
*****
Sanjay Kumar/jk/Tourism-2/04.10.2017
