Ministries asked to run campaign to instill sense of ownership over public assets, improve civic sense

NEW DELHI: Learning from the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission , the biggest ever behaviour change campaign, ministries and central departments have been asked to consider launching a campaign to improve civic sense and public behaviour.

The goal is to instil a sense of ownership among people regarding public assets, transport infrastructure and public spaces.

Sources said the suggestion was made during an interaction between PM Narendra Modi and all secretaries from various ministries and departments earlier this week. TOI has learnt that a secretary from external affairs raised the issue, highlighting how public awareness and targeted efforts can drive significant behavioural change, encouraging citizens to take responsibility for protecting public assets.

Following the meeting, cabinet secretary T V Somanathan has included this in the action points for all secretaries. “This also needs to become a people’s movement. One can see changes in cities like Indore where the general public play a key role in keeping the city clean,” said an official who was present in the meeting.

Public assets and properties usually get targeted by mobs when there are protests.

In his letter to secretaries, Somanathan has mentioned that for better management of cities and urban areas, working groups may be constituted to examine issues impacting urban areas and urbanisation, and recommend changes in the present structure of urban planning, governance and administration.

Sources said a secretary suggested the need to have a different approach to deal with urban issues, considering that urban areas are the hub of economic activities.

Sources said PM emphasised the need to develop a mechanism for data collection and seamless sharing using latest technologies so that the full potential of available data is utilised.

He suggested that the data should be analysed to achieve public welfare and developmental goals.