Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 30 August underscored the power of collective action in sanitation, asserting that when cleanliness becomes a shared commitment, it fundamentally transforms the identity of a place — not merely its appearance. He made the remarks during the 137th episode of his monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat'.

The UP Village That Sparked a Movement

Modi cited the example of Patwai village in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, where two young friends, Akash and Rohan, took it upon themselves to address rising garbage and waste in their surroundings. Their initiative quickly grew into a community effort.

'That was all it took; Akash and Rohan picked up garbage bags and set out to clean the area. Gradually, other young people joined them, and a team was formed — named 'Clean-up Patwai',' Modi said. The group has since cleaned four Ganga ghats and removed over one tonne of plastic waste, in addition to clearing multiple ponds and public spaces.

Amarnath Yatra: Pilgrims as Active Participants

The Prime Minister also highlighted the cleanliness drive conducted during the recently concluded Shri Amarnath Yatra, calling it a model of citizen-led sanitation. Thousands of sanitation workers reportedly laboured around the clock along the pilgrimage route, while pilgrims themselves took an active role.

'During this year's pilgrimage, more than 400 metric tonnes of waste were collected and processed,' Modi said. He noted that more than 16,000 pilgrims took a formal pledge towards cleanliness, and over 10,000 pilgrims were recognised with the 'Responsible Yatri' certificate for their conduct.

Biogas from Animal Dung: A Unique Green Initiative

One initiative from the Amarnath Yatra drew particular attention from the Prime Minister — dung collected from horses and mules used during the pilgrimage was converted into biogas, which was then used to light what he called the 'Swachh Jyot' (Clean Flame). Modi described this as cleanliness becoming 'a form of service and faith' during the holy journey to Baba Barfani.

Identity of Public Spaces Shaped by Conduct

Broadening the message, Modi emphasised that the character of villages, cities, rivers, and religious sites is ultimately determined by the behaviour of the people who inhabit or visit them. 'Whether it is our villages or cities, our rivers or pilgrimage sites — their identity is shaped by our conduct. And when cleanliness becomes a part of that conduct, the beauty of the place is further enhanced,' he said.

The remarks come as the Centre continues to push the Swachh Bharat Mission, now in its second phase, with a growing focus on community ownership rather than top-down enforcement. The Mann Ki Baat platform, which Modi has used consistently since 2014, remains a key vehicle for amplifying grassroots stories of civic participation.