DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Haryana State is constantly touching a new paradigm of progress under the leadership of Chief Minister Manohar Lal. Due to his visionary approach and strenuous efforts, the state government is touching new heights of progress. On the basis of Swachh Survekshan Grameen 2022, ODF Sustainability for Total Sanitation, and excellent implementation of various components of ODF Plus Haryana has secured the second position in the country under the category of States having a population of more than 30 lakhs. Haryana Development and Panchayats Minister, Sh. Devender Singh Babli received this award from the President, Smt. Draupadi Murmu, today, in a programme organized at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries Prahlad Singh Patel, and Minister of State, Jal Shakti and Tribal Affairs Bishweswar Tudu were present on the occasion. Development and Panchayats Minister, Sh. Devender Singh Babli said that every department of the state is committed to taking the state to the highest progress by adopting innovative working procedures and implementing schemes. Special focus is being given to accelerating development growth in rural areas along with uplifting their lifestyle. He said that along with the officers of the development and panchayats department, swachhta sainik, education department, women and child development department, and other social institutions played a key role in supporting to achieve this remarkable target. They have played a major role in generating awareness regarding the Swachhta campaign with a special focus on the rural areas in collaboration with the government. The Minister for Development and Panchayats said that from September 17, the birthday of the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi to October 2, the birthday of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Swachhta Pakhwada is celebrated every year across the country. During the same period, district-level "Swachhta Hi Sewa" programme was also run in the state. Under this, cleanliness campaigns were conducted in every village and people were made aware about not using single-use plastic and keeping their surroundings clean through awareness march, prabhat pheris, signature campaigns, community support, and other means. He said that the fact that the Bhiwani district ranked top in the nation's overall rural cleanliness survey indicates that both government and the rural public are very concerned about maintaining cleanliness. (editor@dailyworld.in)