New Delhi, Oct 19 Nearly Rs 500 crore has been earned from scrap disposal during a special cleanliness drive currently underway, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Monday.
While reviewing the progress of the month-long drive here, he said, as on October 19, the special swachhata campaign 6.0 had covered 8,34,509 cleanliness campaign sites, compared to 2,75,432 during the corresponding period of last year’s campaign, registering a 3.03-fold increase.
“Revenue earned through scrap disposal stood at Rs 491.28 crore, against Rs 304.72 crore during the corresponding period last year, representing a 1.61-fold increase. The campaign had also freed 116 lakh square feet of space, compared to 113.12 lakh square feet during the corresponding period of Special Campaign 5.0,” Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, said.
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in the Personnel Ministry has freed 1,200 square feet of space on a single floor within its office premises under the campaign that began on October 2.
The initiative reflects the campaign’s focus on optimising the utilisation of available office space and ensuring that premises are used in accordance with requirements, Singh said.
The minister said that the campaign builds on the experience of previous editions to improve performance year on year.
“What began with the clearance of physical files has progressively expanded to include electronic files, e-waste management, and the disposal of obsolete materials. The recovery of revenue through scrap disposal has also emerged as an important component of the campaign,” he said.
Singh has urged secretaries to ensure wider participation in campaign 6.0 by extending activities to field offices and establishments across the country.
He emphasised the importance of organising dedicated one-day campaigns across offices and establishments, alongside sustained efforts to improve cleanliness and ensure the effective disposal of obsolete materials.
The campaign also focuses on clearing pending references and public grievances, reviewing physical and electronic files, and freeing up office space for productive utilisation, a statement issued by the Personnel Ministry said.
These efforts complement the physical cleanliness drive and extend its scope to the functioning of government offices, it added.
Among the major contributors, the Department of School Education and Literacy reported 4,15,353 cleanliness campaign sites, while the Ministry of Railways generated Rs 425.06 crore through scrap disposal as on October 19, 2026, the statement said. This special campaign will end on October 31.
The minister underscored the importance of creating greater awareness and motivation among the general public regarding cleanliness, responsible waste disposal, and recycling.
He highlighted the need to promote scientific management of e-waste and showcase technologies for reusing and recycling waste, including applications involving used cooking oil and plastic, to encourage wider understanding of sustainable waste-management practices.
Singh also inaugurated a workplace creche and blood donation camp at Kartavya Bhawan-3 here.
Monday’s meeting was attended by several top bureaucrats, including DARPG Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma and DoPT Secretary Rachna Shah. Many more secretaries joined the meeting virtually.
(PTI News)
