A massive cleanliness drive swept across Meghalaya on Friday as students, local communities, government departments, and various stakeholders united under the theme “Ek Din, Ek Saath, Ek Ghanta” as part of the nationwide Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign. Organized by the Directorate of Urban Affairs through the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), the expansive sanitation initiative spanned the route from Nongpoh to Sohra, drawing widespread participation from citizens eager to contribute to a cleaner environment. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar spearheaded the event, emphasizing that the campaign was designed to fundamentally transform the state’s civic landscape through collective action and a permanent shift in public mindset. Highlighting that civic maintenance cannot rely solely on government intervention, Dhar remarked that while no single entity can achieve total cleanliness alone, everyone sharing responsibility can make it happen, defining the Swachh Bharat Mission not just as a routine sanitation program, but as a vibrant people’s movement built on civic duty. He further underscored the necessity of establishing greater convergence between urban and rural bodies, youth organizations, women’s groups, and educational institutions to reinforce cleanliness efforts, especially within the capital city of Shillong. Urging citizens to cultivate hygiene as an everyday habit rather than viewing waste management as a purely administrative obligation, Dhar called upon residents to take personal ownership of their local streets, villages, towns, and cities to ensure long-term environmental sustainability across the state.