Dera Sacha Sauda chief to launch cleanliness drive in Mumbai

, Oct 28: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the spiritual head of

, will launch a cleanliness drive here on Tuesday in which volunteers of the Haryana-based sect from all over the country will participate.

The sect launched its own cleanliness initiative "Ho Prithvi Saaf, Mitey Rog Abhishaap" (Cleanse the Planet Earth to Remove Disease and Curse) three years ago and Mumbai event is part of it.

The drive was started from Delhi in September 2011 and has covered 27 Indian cities so far. Gurmeet Singh will be inaugurating the drive by wielding the broom himself at MMRDA Grounds in Bandra-Kurla complex in suburban Mumbai.

Bollywood actors will be supporting the drive

According to organisers, a number of celebrities, including film personalties like Prem Chopra, Ramesh Sippy, Shakti Kapoor, Poonam Dhillon, Chunky Pandey and Tiger Shroff have expressed support to the campaign by the Dera that claims to have launched over 100 social initiatives till date.

The drive focuses on involving people from all walks of life to clean not just loads of garbage, but also choked sewers, stagnant drains and stinking toilets. Another important feature of the drive would be providing dustbins at significant vantage points in the metropolis.

The Dera's initiative is separate from Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2. Gurmeet Singh has pledged his support to the Central Government's campaign.

PTI