Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his nationwide cleanliness campaign, the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' or 'Clean India Campaign' from the Valmiki Basti in New Delhi on Thursday. Addressing the nation at the launch, Modi asked India's 1.25 billion people to join the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and promote it to everyone.

After paying tribute at the memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries, Modi himself swept a pavement at Valmiki Basti, a colony of sanitation workers before the formal launch of the 'Clean India' drive at Rajpath. While launching the mission at Mandir Marg, he also made a surprise visit at the local police station to check on its cleanliness.

Modi said, "Today is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhiji and Lal Bahadur Shastriji. We have gained freedom under leadership of Gandhiji, but his dream of clean India is still unfulfilled."

He added, "Swachh Bharat Campaign logo is not just a logo, through it Gandhiji is watching us and we all should clean India. I am not claiming that the newly elected government is doing everything. Be it temples, mosques, gurudwaras or any place, we must take efforts to clean our surroundings. Cleanliness is not only the responsibility of the 'safaai kaamgar', it is the responsibility of 125 crore Indians. If Indians can reach Mars at a cheap cost, can we not clean our neighbourhoods?"

Giving credit to previous governments, Modi said, "I do not make any claim that only the newly elected government has done everything. All governments have done something or the other to achieve cleanliness in the country; I greet all of them for this. Swachh Bharat mission is beyond politics. It is inspired by patriotism and not politics."

Thanking the media for supporting this campaign, he said, "I know people will criticise me in the next few days, but to clean India I am ready to face the criticism."

Stating that this campaign cannot be done by only the government or the ministers, Modi said, "The work is to be done by all Indians. This campaign is for 1.2 billion people and I repeat it 1.2 billion times. This work is not only about a 'prachar abhiyan'. It is a big effort but we have a lot of time."

Mentioning that the response he is getting on the social media is heartening, Modi said, "There are thousands of organisations which have been doing the great work of cleanliness, and they should also brought into the picture."

Modi asked people to take pictures of areas where they saw garbage, then clean the area and take pictures of the clean area. He asked people to upload these images on social media using MyGov, a mobile application.

He added, "I have also started a social media campaign, I have invited nine people to post pictures of them cleaning and they will invite another nine people. It includes Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Salman Khan, Yoga guru Ramdev baba and a team of Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah."

"I feel pained to see mothers and daughters to go in the open to relieve themselves. More than 60% people defecate in the open. Constructing more toilets is extremely important and we can at least do this to respect them. Don’t trust my government, but trust Mahatma Gandhi’s devotion to cleanliness," he added.

Prime Minister Modi also pledged to people saying 'na main gandagi karoonga,na main gandagi karne doonga' (I would not litter and won't allow anyone to do so). He further flagged off a walkathon as part of the Swachh Bharat Campaign.

Watch Video: Mahatma Gandhi's dream to see clean India is still unfulfilled: PM Modi

Millions of people across the country are also joining daily the cleanliness initiatives of the government departments, NGOs and local community centers to make India completely clean by 2019.

The Centre will spend nearly Rs 2 lakh crore in a five-year span as part of its ambitious plan to completely clean India by October 2019, coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. While the Urban Development Ministry will allocate Rs 62,000 crore for cleaning towns across the country, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation will spend Rs 1,34,000 crores for the programme to be launched by Modi on October 2.

Prime Minister addresses nation

Union minister Venkaiah Naidu: I am confident that Swachh Bharat Campaign will turn into a people's movement across India.

PM Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari reaches at Rajpath.

Bollywood actor Amir Khan praises Narendra Modi's initiative

We all must support Swachh Bharat campaign. It is very important issue for the country. I appeal to all Indians to pledge today: Aamir Khan

Prime Modi Narendra Modi kicks start his nationwide 'Swachh Bharat Mission', wields broom himself.Modi also interacts with 'Safai Karamcharis' (Janiators) at Valmiki Basti

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches at Valmiki Basti. Valmiki Colony is close to Birla Mandir where Gandhi was assassinated in 1947.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijayghat

Gandhi ji's thoughts & beliefs remain a great inspiration for us. Let us dedicate ourselves to building the India of Gandhi ji's dreams. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2014

President Pranab Mukherjee greets nation, asks Indians to do utmost to make 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' a success.

Gandhiji believed cleanliness next only to Godliness, let's pledge today 2 convert cleanliness into a national passion. #PresidentMukherjee — President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 2, 2014

Every road, path, office, home, hut, stream and particle of air around us can and must be kept clean #PresidentMukherjee — President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 2, 2014

More than 2,500 students from close to 50 government schools in Delhi will take the 'Swachhta Shapath' tomorrow along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he inaugurates his ambitious 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' here.

Also Read: Swach Bharat: Narendra Modi will do a Mahatma Gandhi today

Around 2,700 students from 44 government schools will read from the 'pledge paper' along with the prime minister at India Gate and also take part in a 3-km long 'walkathon' which would be held as part of the launch of the cleanliness mission.

The ongoing cleanliness drive has so far witnessed the participation of prominent leaders from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government including Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, HRD Minister Smriti Irani, Water Resource Minister Uma Bharti, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

A ground-to-air security cover on par with the Republic Day security arrangements has been put in place at Rajpath where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and flag off a walkathon here tomorrow.

All government offices around Rajpath such as Krishi Bhavan, Rail Bhavan among others were shut today at 1 PM following which they were sanitized and sealed by Delhi Police beginning at 2 PM.

Security personnel have been deployed in these buildings while snipers will be placed on its roof tops during the function.

Following prime minister Narendra Modi's diktat to start Swachh Bharat Mission on October 2, bureaucrats in various ministries are scrambling to get hold of brooms, dusters and dustbins. The requisition for brooms and dusters ranges from a dozen to 70-80 pieces depending on the strength of a particular department in a ministry.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday released a handbook on 'Swachh Bharat-Swachh Vidyalaya' capturing several good practices followed in many states to keep school premises neat and tidy.

Encouraging children to emulate such examples in their schools, the handbook elaborates how schools should be neat and orderly, have clean drinking water spaces, clean toilets and tidy classrooms and compounds.

The Swachh Bharat Mission will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here tomorrow and 'Swachh Vidyalaya' is a component of that campaign.