New Delhi (Agency): The Ministry of Mines in India has completed its Special Campaign 2.0, a multi-month initiative that started in November 2022 and ended in August 2023. Launched by the Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, this campaign had a noble aim: “giving back to the environment.”
The Ministry organized 116 Swachhta campaigns, which are clean-up drives, across 84 Site Offices in India. As part of these campaigns, several eco-friendly projects were implemented. These include setting up rainwater harvesting structures, creating compost pits, and cleaning lakes and ponds. The Ministry also focused on eco-disposal of waste. Rainwater harvesting systems were set up in the buildings owned by the Ministry. Also, specific sites were identified for the Vermi Compost Pit Projects in different states like Jharkhand and Odisha.
Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi reviewed the campaign and suggested adding waste segregation in departmental canteens, a recommendation that has been implemented. The Ministry of Education, as the Nodal Ministry, has been requested to issue similar guidelines for waste segregation and compost pit creation in other departmental canteens.
The initiative went beyond just environmental conservation. The campaign has also led to significant organizational changes. A total of 2743 files were cleared out between November 2022 and August 2023, freeing up 34,549 square feet of space. This decluttering generated a revenue of Rs. 17,21,30,148 (over Rs. 17 Crore) from scrap disposal.
Office spaces were modernized to create a better work environment. The Ministry used the opportunity to adorn the corridors with paintings and potted plants. These changes were not limited to the Ministry of Mines but were also implemented across various organizations and Public Sector Units under the Ministry.
Special Campaign 2.0 led by the Ministry of Mines has been a multi-faceted success. Not only did it focus on “giving back to the environment,” but it also led to organizational improvements and generated revenue. The campaign’s initiatives like rainwater harvesting, compost pits, and waste management are steps in the right direction for environmental conservation in India.