Government departments have earned Rs 491.28 crore by disposing of scrap during a month-long cleanliness drive, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Monday, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
The Special Swachhata Campaign 6.0 had covered 8,34,509 sites as of October 19, more than three times the 2,75,432 sites covered during the corresponding period last year. The drive, which began on October 2, will end on October 31.
Reviewing the campaign’s progress in New Delhi, Singh said, “Revenue earned through scrap disposal stood at Rs 491.28 crore, against Rs 304.72 crore during the corresponding period last year, representing a 1.61-fold increase. The campaign had also freed 116 lakh square feet of space, compared to 113.12 lakh square feet during the corresponding period of Special Campaign 5.0.”
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in the Personnel Ministry freed 1,200 square feet of space on a single floor of its office under the campaign. Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, said the initiative reflected the focus on making better use of available office space and ensuring that premises were used according to requirements.
He said the campaign had built on the experience of its previous editions to improve its performance each year.
“What began with the clearance of physical files has progressively expanded to include electronic files, e-waste management, and the disposal of obsolete materials. The recovery of revenue through scrap disposal has also emerged as an important component of the campaign,” Singh said.
Singh urged secretaries to ensure wider participation in Campaign 6.0 by extending its activities to field offices and establishments across the country. He also called for dedicated one-day drives at offices and establishments, along with continued efforts to improve cleanliness and dispose of obsolete material effectively.
The campaign also aims to clear pending references and public grievances, review physical and electronic files, and free office space for productive use, the Personnel Ministry said in a statement cited by PTI. These measures complement the physical cleanliness drive and extend its scope to the functioning of government offices, it added.
Among the major contributors, the Department of School Education and Literacy reported 4,15,353 campaign sites. The Ministry of Railways generated Rs 425.06 crore from scrap disposal as of October 19, 2026, according to the statement.
Singh stressed the need to create greater public awareness about cleanliness, responsible waste disposal and recycling. He also called for the scientific management of electronic waste and the display of technologies for reusing and recycling waste, including used cooking oil and plastic, to improve understanding of sustainable waste-management practices.
The minister also inaugurated a workplace creche and a blood donation camp at Kartavya Bhawan-3 in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma and DoPT Secretary Rachna Shah. Several other secretaries joined virtually.
The cleanliness campaign, scheduled to conclude on October 31, has so far covered more than 8.34 lakh sites, generated Rs 491.28 crore through scrap disposal and freed 116 lakh square feet of office space.
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With inputs from PTI
