CM Pema Khandu joins IMC for Swachh Bharat Diwas in Itanagar
Synopsis
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu joined the Itanagar Municipal Corporation on Gandhi Jayanti 2026 to observe Swachh Bharat Diwas, taking the Swachhata pledge and paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi through a collective commitment to cleanliness.
Key Takeaways
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu participated in Swachh Bharat Diwas events in Itanagar on October 2, 2026 .
The event was organised with the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) , the capital's primary civic body.
Khandu and participants took the Swachhata pledge , reaffirming commitment to keeping surroundings clean.
The occasion marked Gandhi Jayanti , the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi , who inspired the mission's founding ethos.
The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on October 2, 2014 , with each anniversary observed as Swachh Bharat Diwas .
On the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu stepped out onto the streets of Itanagar on Friday, October 2, 2026, joining the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) in marking Swachh Bharat Diwas — a day that turns civic duty into collective resolve.
The Chief Minister participated in a Swachhata pledge alongside IMC officials and workers, reaffirming a commitment to keeping Itanagar and its surroundings clean. The event was framed as both a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi's legacy and a hands-on demonstration of the Centre's flagship cleanliness mission.
Gandhi Jayanti and the Swachh Bharat connection
Gandhi Jayanti, observed every October 2, holds a special place in the Swachh Bharat Mission calendar. It was on this date in 2014 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launched the mission — deliberately invoking Gandhi's lifelong insistence that sanitation is inseparable from freedom and dignity. Each anniversary since has been marked as Swachh Bharat Diwas, with governments at every level organising cleanliness drives, pledge ceremonies, and community events nationwide.
The Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, which precedes the day each year, mobilises citizens, elected representatives, and civic bodies in a fortnight of cleanliness activities. CM Khandu's participation alongside the IMC places Arunachal Pradesh's capital firmly in that national rhythm.
Itanagar's civic stake in the mission
Itanagar, a hill city navigating rapid urbanisation, faces the practical pressures that come with population growth and uneven infrastructure. The IMC serves as the primary civic body responsible for solid waste management, drainage, and public sanitation in the capital. The Chief Minister's visible presence at a ground-level cleanliness event signals political backing for the corporation's daily work — the kind of top-down endorsement that, in smaller state capitals, often translates into renewed administrative energy.
Khandu shared photographs from the event, showing the pledge ceremony and the community gathering — a visual record that doubles as a public call to action for residents of Itanagar.
Twelve years on from its launch, the Swachh Bharat Mission remains a live accountability frame for every state capital — and today, Itanagar added its voice to the chorus.
Point of View
Visible leadership endorsement of the IMC carries practical weight beyond ceremony. The event also reinforces the BJP's consistent effort to own the Swachh Bharat brand at every level of government, from the Prime Minister's broom-in-hand launch in 2014 to state chief ministers' annual October 2 appearances.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Swachh Bharat Diwas and why is it observed on October 2?
Swachh Bharat Diwas is observed on October 2 each year because the Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on that date in 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti to honour Mahatma Gandhi's emphasis on sanitation and cleanliness.
What did CM Pema Khandu do on Gandhi Jayanti 2026?
CM Pema Khandu joined the Itanagar Municipal Corporation in observing Swachh Bharat Diwas on October 2, 2026 , participating in a Swachhata pledge ceremony and a community cleanliness drive in Itanagar .
What is the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign?
Swachhata Hi Seva is an annual fortnight-long campaign that precedes Swachh Bharat Diwas , mobilising citizens, government officials, and civic bodies across India in cleanliness and sanitation activities leading up to Gandhi Jayanti .
What does the Itanagar Municipal Corporation do?
The Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) is the principal civic body governing Itanagar , responsible for solid waste management, drainage, public sanitation, and urban infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh's capital.
