By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, APR 26, 2017: THE Swachh Bharat bug finally seems to be catching up with the CBDT. In his latest communication, the CBDT Chairman, Mr Sushil Chandra, has called for active participation from all the Officers and Officials of his Department in the Swatchh Bharat Abhiyaan. The Swatchh Bharat Abhiyaan or Clean India Mission is one of the major flagship programmes of the Government. The objective of this Mission is to fulfil Mahatma Gandhi's dream of a clean and hygienic India and with the active participation of citizens all across the country, it has taken the shape of a mass movement.

He has stated in his letter that on the basis of inputs from the regions, the CBDT has developed a Swachhta Action Plan for 2017-18 and 2018-19. The action points, timelines and the nodal monitoring and supervising authorities have been delineated in the Swachhta Action Plan (SAP). In the SAP for 2017-18, the swachhta action points/focus areas are digitization of Office records, basic maintenance, sanitation, cleanliness and beautification of surroundings and Swachhta awareness at local level. He requested the officers to take all necessary steps to energise the workforce to complete all the work relating to these action points within the prescribed time.

The Chairman also emphasized that all the Officers of the Department should endeavour to achieve total cleanliness in all their offices and especially in all ask centres, canteens, visitor's areas and all washrooms located in office buildings.

He has called for creating a healthy competition amongst the officers and officials. It was also informed that certificates of appreciation will be given by CBDT on a quarterly basis, based on reports by the Directorate of Infrastructure for the cleanest office building, cleanest canteen and cleanest residential colony.

The Chairman also said that, henceforth, the Swachhta Action Plan would be a permanent agenda item in all Video Conferences and the initiatives undertaken for the same would be reported during such conferences.