Chandigarh, April 2, 2026 — The second day of Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, was marked by vibrant and wide-ranging activity, reaffirming the Institute’s commitment to a clean, green, and hygienic environment. Four distinct activities were organized today — a Plantation Drive and Signature Campaign on Swachhata led personally by Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER. A Hand Hygiene Quiz for frontline sanitation staff and an extensive Cleanliness Drive was laso conducted in public areas surrounding the PGIMER campus.

The highlight of Day 2 was a Plantation Drive conducted across the PGIMER campus, led from the front by Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER. The activity drew enthusiastic participation from the Deputy Director, Sh. Pankaj Rai, Medical Superintendent, Prof. Vipin Koushal, faculty members, sanitary attendants, and hospital attendants. The drive underscored the Institute’s commitment not only to cleanliness but also to environmental sustainability — recognising that green spaces and plantation are integral to a healing and health-promoting environment. The sight of senior institutional leadership actively planting saplings alongside frontline sanitation workers powerfully embodied the spirit of Swachh Bharat.

A Signature Campaign was organized as part of the day’s Swachhata activities, inviting staff, faculty, residents, and participants to formally pledge their commitment to cleanliness by signing the campaign register. The campaign served as a powerful symbolic act of collective ownership — moving beyond the spoken pledge to a written, personal affirmation of each individual’s responsibility in maintaining a clean and hygienic institution. The campaign saw broad-based participation from across the Institute community.

A Hand Hygiene Quiz was conducted for Sanitary Attendants (SA) and Hospital Attendants (HA) as part of Day 2’s planned activities under the Swachhata Pakhwada schedule. The quiz was designed to test and reinforce knowledge of correct handwashing techniques, critical touchpoints in the care environment, and best practices in infection prevention. Hand hygiene remains one of the most cost-effective and evidence-based interventions in healthcare-associated infection control, and equipping frontline sanitation and hospital attendant staff with this knowledge is central to PGIMER’s quality and safety agenda. Participants engaged enthusiastically, demonstrating both awareness and commitment to safe hygiene practices.

In keeping with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s directive to extend Swachhata activities beyond the institution’s boundaries, PGIMER organized a Cleanliness Drive in the public areas surrounding its campus. Sanitation staff and volunteers cleaned public spaces, walkways, and community areas in the vicinity of the Institute, reflecting PGIMER’s sense of civic responsibility and its role as a community health leader. This outward-facing cleanliness effort reinforces the message that a healthier India begins with cleaner neighbourhoods — and that institutions of national importance must set the standard.

As the Pakhwada progresses, PGIMER has a rich calendar of activities planned through April 15th, including Biomedical Waste Management workshops, World Health Day celebrations on April 7th, poster-making competitions, Nukkad Nataks, Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivir, Shramdaan activities, and a Felicitation Day on April 15th.