The most recent government research has uncovered some astounding data that will surprise you. According to the figures, the Central Government has generated approximately Rs 1,163 crore from waste sales alone (since October 2021), including Rs 557 crore in October this year from a month-long campaign. It might be considered as a new revenue source for the Narendra Modi government.

According to the government, 96 lakh office files have been disposed of at government offices since October 2021, freeing up over 355 lakh square feet of space, as reported by News18. This relocation cleaned up the office corridors and freed up room for other uses.

Surprisingly, the massive sum is nearly double the budget of Chandrayaan-3, which cost roughly Rs 600 crore. The Modi administration might fund two such missions using the proceeds from the sale of scraps such as files, office equipment, and antiquated cars.

“The Russian moon mission, which was unsuccessful, cost Rs 16,000 crore, and our (Chandrayaan-3) mission cost just around Rs 600 crore. Hollywood films based on moon and space missions cost over Rs 600 crore,” said Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Space, earlier this year.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances spearheaded the huge effort. Notably, the major campaign emphasises the importance of the Central Government's cleaning initiative, with the pressure coming straight from the Prime Minister's top chair.

The PMO also reposted the News18 report on its X (formerly Twitter) account.

The government had run its Special Campaign 3.0 from October 2 to October 31, with a greater emphasis on cleanliness and eliminating pendency in the administration. According to a top government official, although a similar campaign in October last year garnered Rs 371 crore, the objective for the third iteration was to raise around Rs 400 crore in income.

High revenue-generating ministries

The Railway Ministry alone received approximately Rs 225 crore out of the Rs 556 crore earned by the government this year from trash sales. The military ministry, on the other hand, received Rs 168 crore, the coal ministry, Rs 34 crore, and the petroleum and natural gas ministry, Rs 56 crore. Surprisingly, the greatest amount of space was freed up once the scrap was sold. According to the government's estimate, the biggest area liberated in the Coal Ministry is around 66 lakh square feet, the Heavy Industry Ministry is approximately 21 lakh square feet, and the Defence Ministry is approximately 19 lakh square feet.

“The Special Campaign 3.0 for institutionalizing swachhata (cleanliness) and reducing pendency represents India’s largest ever campaign for swachhata in office spaces. The month-long campaign conducted in 2,58,673 offices across India and abroad, resulted in freeing up 164 lac sq ft of office space, weeding of 24.07 lakh physical files and earned revenues of Rs 556.35 crore from disposal of office scrap,” stated DARPG Secretary V Srinivas.

“The Special Campaign 3.0 was successful in significant reduction in pendency with Ministries/Departments achieving nearly 100 percent targets in redressal of public grievances, records management practices and replies to MP references. The Swachhata Assessment Report 2023 presents the leadership role played by the Council of Ministers, the Secretaries to GOI in successful implementation of Special Campaign 3.0 under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, documenting the best practices and innovations. The swachhata campaign practices will be institutionalised in government with three hours per week being devoted for swachhata activities,” he concluded.

Modi Govt. earns Rs 20 crore every month

The first such initiative, in October 2021, netted the government Rs 62 crore. Since the last campaign concluded in November, the government has made cleaning a continuous effort, earning roughly Rs 20 crore every month.

As a consequence, government buildings have clean hallways, steel almirahs full of paperwork have been cleaned, and condemned cars have been auctioned off.

While a record 90 lakh square feet of space were cleared out during Special Campaign 2.0 in October of last year, the goal for this October was to liberate at least 100 lakh square feet.

The last campaign reached 1.01 lakh office sites, and the government targeted roughly 1.5 lakh office sites in the third iteration.

You might also be interested in - Deciphering 2024 elections: Modi’s popularity, opposition challenges, and the political landscape