Local Self‑Government Minister K.M. Shaji told reporters on Sunday, September 20, that the initiative will bring together various state departments and agencies to address the growing waste‑management crisis, which he said is threatening both the environment and water sources.
Shaji warned that waste accumulation has reached a level that could endanger human life, despite several measures already taken, and described the situation as a matter of “grave concern.”
The minister emphasized the need for social intervention, urging citizens to reduce the use of waste‑generating materials, improve waste handling practices, and support the development of infrastructure for waste treatment.
As part of the campaign, the department’s Suchitwa Mission will run a public competition to select a name and logo for the five‑year drive, inviting creative suggestions from the community.
Agencies under the LSGD are also slated to conduct separate awareness programmes throughout the campaign period, reinforcing the message of responsible waste disposal and recycling.
The launch on Gandhi Jayanti is intended to symbolically link the campaign’s goals of cleanliness and civic responsibility with the values associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.