Sambalpur Member of Parliament and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday, 5 October 2026, appealed to residents across all sections of society in his constituency to join a large-scale cleanliness drive — Swachhta Abhiyan — scheduled for the morning of 10 October in Sambalpur district, Odisha, under the broader Seva Sankalp Abhiyan initiative.

Pradhan's Appeal

In a video message shared on his X handle, Pradhan said, “I appeal to every citizen of Sambalpur, my young friends, mothers and sisters, people’s representatives and members of various organisations to participate in this drive and contribute to cleaning their villages, hamlets, wards, localities and public places. Come, let us turn the cleanliness drive (Swachhta Abhiyan) into a mass movement and make Sambalpur a clean, beautiful and healthy district.”

The former minister stressed that the drive is not a routine civic exercise but a continuation of a deep cultural and spiritual tradition rooted in Odia heritage. He cited the religious text Lakshmi Purana, which, he noted, states that Goddess Lakshmi resides where cleanliness prevails, and underscored that no puja or religious ritual in an Odia household is considered complete without purity and cleanliness.

Cultural and Spiritual Roots

Pradhan drew a direct line between personal cleanliness and collective identity. “Cleanliness is not confined merely to the four walls of our homes. Cleanliness is our way of life, our values and our character,” he said. He described the effort as “a spiritual and social value handed down to us by our ancestors.”

The MP also invoked Mahatma Gandhi, noting that Gandhi regarded cleanliness not merely as a personal habit but as the foundation of a healthy society, and led by personal example through his own participation in cleanliness drives across the country.

National Context: Swachhata Hi Seva

Pradhan connected the district-level initiative to the national sanitation vision championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the Prime Minister's repeated emphasis on the principle ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ — cleanliness is service. “When we keep our surroundings clean, we are serving society, the nation and our future generations,” Pradhan noted. The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, under which the 10 October drive is being organised, aligns with this broader national sanitation framework.

Sambalpur's Cultural Significance

The former Union minister described Sambalpur as the heartland of Odia literature, culture, art and values, calling it a region of deep spiritual significance. “It is our paramount duty to keep this sacred land clean, beautiful, free from waste and healthy,” he said. He called on people’s representatives and members of local organisations to take a leading role in mobilising communities across wards, villages and localities.

The drive is set for the morning of 10 October, with Pradhan urging broad participation ahead of that date to build momentum for what he described as a potential mass movement in the district.