On completion of Swachhta Pakhwada, a 15-day observance of cleanliness campaign activities, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal distributed prizes for cleanliness among mega food parks and cold chain units for maintaining, promoting and encouraging 'Swachhta Culture'.

Facts :

• Swachhta Pakhwada activities by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries have come to a end on 31 Oct. On the penultimate day Union Minister Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal distributed prizes for cleanliness among Mega Food Parks and Cold Chain Units.
• The campaign saw encouraging participation from various industry chambers as well as food processing companies.
• The first prize was awarded to M/s. Patanjali Food and Herbal Park (P) Ltd. in Haridwar, the second prize by Satara Mega Food Park (P) Ltd., Satara District, Maharashtra and third by Pagro Frozen Foods Pvt.(P) Ltd. (Cold Chain Project) in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab.
• The selection of winners was done by National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management based on Swachhta Audit conducted by it of 11 Mega Food Parks and 11 Cold Chain Units.
• Noteworthy efforts were also made by the institute who towards the Pakhwada through extensive campaign including rallies, cleanliness drives, shramdaan, distribution of dustbins.
• Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology created a booklet on Waste to Wealth technology which was released on 16th October by the Minister.
• Ministry of Food Processing Industries assisted Mega Food Parks, Cold Chain Units, Abattoirs etc in celebrating Swachhta Pakhwada. Also, senior officials and staff of the Ministry participated in cleanliness campaign around the Ministry premises at Panchsheel Bhawan.
• Training programmes for street vendors were organised in association with various chambers of commerce such as PHD Chamber of Commerce, Indian Chamber of Commerce in Delhi and around India.
• Nodal officers of the Ministry also visited Mega Food Parks, Abattoirs, Cold Chains and other assisted projects to review cleanliness measures at the sites during the course of 15 days.
• The Minister thanked industry chambers for their enthusiastic participation in the campaign and hoped that they will continue to promote the idea of Swachhta becoming a way of life.