Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 17 September 2026, participated in a cleanliness drive and tree plantation programme at Vadnagar Railway Station in Gujarat, marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday. Shah planted 76 saplings alongside children with disabilities, with each sapling symbolising a year of the Prime Minister's life and a collective commitment to environmental conservation.

Cleanliness Drive at Modi's Birthplace

The cleanliness drive was organised under the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' at Vadnagar station — located in PM Modi's birthplace — as part of the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign being run by the Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway. Shah swept the station premises with a broom, conveying the message of maintaining clean and well-kept public spaces.

Mehsana MP Hari Patel and Ahmedabad Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Ved Prakash, along with a large number of railway officers and staff, also participated in the drive. Passengers and members of the public were sensitised about cleanliness practices during the event.

76 Saplings, 76 Children — The Significance

The tree plantation programme was organised around the twin themes of environmental conservation and social inclusion. All 76 saplings were planted by children with disabilities, with Shah and MP Patel also joining the initiative.

According to DRM Ved Prakash, each sapling planted for PM Modi's 76th birthday 'symbolised a commitment to environmental conservation, a green future and equal participation in society.' He added that 'the participation of children with disabilities conveyed that every section of society has an equal and important role in environmental conservation and nation-building efforts.'

Notably, the programme builds on a precedent set last year. On 17 September 2025, 75 saplings were planted at the same station under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign to mark Modi's 75th birthday. Officials noted that those saplings have since 'developed into healthy, green trees and are bearing fruits and flowers.'

Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign: Scope and Timeline

The 'Swachhata Hi Seva' (SHS) 2026 campaign, which began nationwide on 17 September, will run until 2 October — Gandhi Jayanti. Within the Ahmedabad Division, the campaign encompasses cleanliness and awareness activities at railway stations, offices, residential areas, and other public spaces.

Special cleaning drives are scheduled for 19 and 20 September at identified garbage-sensitive locations around railway stations, yards, colonies, and along railway tracks. These sites will subsequently be beautified and designated as 'Swachhata Selfie Points'.

The 'Swachh Pathshala-Yuva for Swachhata' programme includes cleanliness pledges, awareness sessions on solid waste management, and proper waste segregation. Visits to railway wastewater treatment plants, bio-toilet plants, and coach washing lines, along with street plays, art competitions, and activities promoting reuse, are also part of the drive.

From Plantation to Conservation

The Ahmedabad Division described its approach as a 'from plantation to conservation' initiative, designed to increase green cover on railway premises, promote environmental awareness among passengers and the public, and make stations cleaner and more eco-friendly. Voluntary organisations, social bodies, and local residents are also being encouraged to participate in the ongoing campaign.

With the campaign running through Gandhi Jayanti and special drives planned over the coming days, the Ahmedabad Division is expected to scale up public engagement across its network of stations and colonies.