Launching the mission, PM Modi lauded the present generation for strengthening the cleanliness campaign

The government has launched an ambitious programme to make cities garbage-free under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.

"The goal is to make the cities completely free of garbage,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, launching the initiative in Friday.

The Prime Minister also launched the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0.

“Country's target in the next phase of Mission AMRUT is improving sewage and septic management, making our cities water-safe cities and ensuring that no sewage drains anywhere in our rivers,” PM Modi said.

During his address, he pointed that India was now processing about one lakh tonnes of waste every day.

"When the country started the campaign in 2014, less than 20 per cent of the waste generated every day in the country was processed. Today we are processing about 70 per cent of daily waste. Now we have to take it to 100%," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister dedicated the successes of transformation in the urban regeneration and cleanliness to Mahatma Gandhi. He said these missions were the result of inspiration by Mahatma Gandhi. He also highlighted the ease for mothers and daughters due to the construction of toilets.

The Prime Minister remarked that the journey of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and AMRUT Mission so far makes every countryman proud. “In this, there is a mission, there is respect, there is dignity, there is also the ambition of a country and there is also unmatched love for the motherland,” he said.

SBM-U 2.0 envisions to make all cities ‘Garbage Free’ and ensure grey and black water management in all cities.

AMRUT 2.0 aims to provide 100% coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,700 urban local bodies. It also targets 100% coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities.

Highlighting that today's event was taking place in the Ambedkar International Centre, the Prime Minister pointed out that Babasaheb believed in urban development as a great means of removing inequality.

Noting that many people from villages come to cities with an aspiration for a better life, PM Modi said they get employment but their standard of living remains in a difficult situation.

He said Babasaheb's emphasis was on changing this situation by removing this inequality. The next phase of Swachh Bharat Mission and Mission Amrit was an important step towards fulfilling the dreams of Babasaheb, said the Prime Minister.

Commenting on the level of public participation with regard to cleanliness, he expressed happiness that the present generation has taken the initiative to strengthen the cleanliness campaign.

“We have to remember that cleanliness is not a task just for a day, a fortnight, a year or for just a few people. Cleanliness is a great campaign for everyone, every day, every fortnight, every year, generation after generation. Cleanliness is a lifestyle, cleanliness is a life mantra, '' said the Prime Minister.

The use of modern technology was also continuously increasing for the development of cities in the country, he said.

The Prime Minister mentioned the recently-launched National Automobile Scrappage Policy, and pointed out that this new scrapping policy strengthens the campaign of Waste to Wealth and a circular economy.