Women and Child Development Ministry is observing Swachhta Pakhwada from today. The progamme aims at raising awareness about Swachh Bharat Abhiyan among women and children. The Pakhwada is observed by various Ministries to achieve the goal of universal sanitation, hygiene and open defecation free India by 2019.<br/><br/>The Ministry has written to all the states to observe the Swachhta Pakhwada through the wide network of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). The states have been asked to carry out the activities like white-washing,cleanliness in and around AWCs,weeding out of obsolete records and celebrating International Women's Day on 8th March. <br/><br/>In her message, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said that women have a pivotal role to play in ensuring a Swachh Bharat and children must inculcate the habit of cleanliness. <br/><br/>She said, the government wants to educate both women and children across the nation to understand the importance of cleanliness and develop lifelong attitudes to keep themselves and their surroundings clean.Joint Secretary for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao will be leading specialised programmes in Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Districts with activities for girl children on the theme of Swachh Bharat. Health and sanitation needs of girl children will be highlighted. <br/><br/>