Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu grabbed a broom on September 17. He joined a massive cleanup at Mallo Tarin Government Higher Secondary School in Itanagar. The event signaled the state-level start of Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 and the Swachh Paathshala Yuva for Swachhata program. It was dirty work.
The initiative puts students and local youth at the front lines of sanitation. Organizers want to build a culture of responsible waste management and active civic participation. Khandu worked alongside the students to clear the grounds. He stressed the importance of collective participation in keeping neighborhoods healthy.
This year, the movement operates under the theme, "Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat." Officials hope the project pushes individuals to take ownership of their local environment. They want the lessons learned inside classrooms to bleed into the wider community. The government expects this long-term campaign to change habits and strengthen civic pride across the entire generation.
Updated at 18th September 2026 at 2:04am
The event, which marks the Prime Minister's birthday, kicks off a month of action across the state. Khandu asked residents to mark the day by lighting a lamp at home to pray for the Prime Minister. Officials have lined up roughly 12 events throughout the state, including district-level art and speech competitions. The state will also host Seva Aapke Dwar camps to bridge the gap between villagers and government services.
Khandu toured a Waste to Art Park at the school, built with help from KPMG. He praised the site as proof that trash can become functional art with the right mindset. During his address, he challenged students to commit to the Swachhata pledge, which asks for two hours of cleanup work every week and requires each person to sign up 100 others to the cause.
Beyond sanitation, the Chief Minister pivoted to the state's athletic climb. He noted that Arunachal athletes have hauled in over 1,000 medals in the last decade. He confirmed that local fighters in Wushu and Taekwondo are headed to the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, marking a first for the state. To keep the momentum going, he pointed to talent-search programs like Arunachal Got Talent and the Battle of Minds as tools to keep youth engaged in productive fields.
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