Former Union Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan led a large-scale cleanliness drive across Sambalpur district on Saturday, October 10, as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. Nearly one lakh people, including volunteers and sanitation workers, participated in the initiative, which aimed to promote public involvement in maintaining clean and hygienic surroundings. The campaign was conducted at around 500 locations across the district, including areas under the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation, turning the initiative into a district-wide effort.

Pradhan participated in the cleanliness activity by picking up a broom and joining the drive along the stretch from Laxmi Talkies Square to Gol Bazar in Sambalpur city. Senior district administration officials, including the District Collector, Deputy Inspector General, Superintendent of Police and Sambalpur Municipal Corporation Commissioner, also took part. Members of voluntary organisations joined the initiative, which began at 6.30 am. The participation of government officials and community groups was intended to encourage residents to treat sanitation as a shared responsibility.

Addressing the campaign, Pradhan emphasised that cleanliness should become an everyday habit rather than remain limited to organised drives. He described sanitation as a form of service and urged people to maintain clean homes, neighbourhoods and public spaces. He also highlighted the participation of more than 100,000 volunteers and sanitation workers across over 500 locations, describing the collective effort as an example of disciplined living. The campaign sought to strengthen public awareness and encourage citizens to take a more active role in keeping their surroundings clean.

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Pradhan also expressed concern over the extensive use of single-use plastic in Sambalpur, warning that it posed a threat to the environment. He stressed that environmental damage could affect both communities and public property, underlining the need for responsible waste disposal and reduced plastic consumption. The cleanliness initiative therefore focused not only on removing waste from public spaces but also on encouraging habits that could help prevent pollution. Community participation, he indicated, was essential to sustaining improvements beyond the scheduled campaign.

The drive forms part of broader efforts under the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign to promote sanitation awareness and encourage citizens to take ownership of their surroundings. By organising activities across hundreds of locations, the initiative aimed to extend participation beyond the city centre to neighbourhoods and other parts of the district. Officials, volunteers and sanitation workers contributed to the coordinated effort, while the campaign also called for cleanliness to become a regular community practice. The organisers hope that continued public participation will help maintain cleaner public spaces and strengthen environmental responsibility across Sambalpur.

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