Cleanliness Push in Central Health Institutions Gains Momentum
Central health institutions across India are being pushed to make cleanliness a lasting part of their operations, as the Health Ministry reviews progress under Special Campaign 6. The campaign also aims to reduce pending work in government offices. A one-day Kayakalp programme focused on sanitation will be held on October 27.
The review was led by Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and held virtually on Monday from Kartavya Bhawan-1 in New Delhi. Leaders of central government hospitals, central public sector undertakings, the Central Government Health Scheme and other offices under the Health and Family Welfare Department attended.
The Secretary made it clear that the drive should produce real, visible change rather than remain a set of ceremonial events. He said better cleanliness, sanitation, space planning and maintenance of public health facilities should be evident to anyone who visits. Because these sites handle large crowds, he noted, hygiene is central to providing good care.
He called on institutions to take part wholeheartedly in the Kayakalp activities scheduled for October 27 and to ensure that the results can be seen and confirmed.
The ministry reported that every identified site has been cleaned, public grievances have been resolved to nearly full extent, and cleaning and auction drives have brought in about Rs 50 lakh.
Key themes included the practical use of reduce, reuse and recycle, along with sanitation, pest control, biomedical waste management, e-waste disposal and improved upkeep of public spaces.
Institutions were encouraged to clear out old records and unused items, including through e-auction, to create usable space and, where feasible, generate revenue. Several shared inventive practices, such as creating plant stands and storage racks from waste, refurbishing old furniture, digitising medical records, expanding green cover through plantation, and running deep-cleaning and gardening initiatives.
Some institutions sold off long-idle scrap through an authorised e-auction platform, earning money and freeing space on their premises. Others have set up digital systems and QR code-based feedback tools to address complaints quickly.
The Secretary emphasised that the campaign's effect should also be judged by the direct experiences of visitors and beneficiaries.
Representatives from 336 central health institutions across the country took part. They included AIIMS Guwahati, AIIMS Rishikesh, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, NIMHANS Bengaluru, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital and RIMS Imphal.