The campaign is to highlight and sensitise the general public on the issuesof primary health of school children and pregnant mothers; sanitation inresidential colonies, maintenance of parks and green areas, and scientificdisposal of garbage and the issue of plastic bags.

The most significant aspect of this campaign is that it has corporatesupport. The `Clean Delhi' campaign has been sponsored by Carrier AirconLtd, and supported by McDowell & Co Ltd and Channel (V), who have made aserious commitment to support the campaign on the issue throughout theyear.

The main highlight of this campaign is the adoption of 200 child scavengersand child dhaba workers by the NGO. The aim is to educate them on issues ofhygiene, sanitation and cleanliness, says Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury,chairperson, Artists for Empowerment.

These children will also be given life insurance policies as socialsecurity, which will be maintained by a nationalised bank till the childrenreach the age of 18-21 years.

In addition, the dhaba children will be given medical cards, which willentitle them to a free medical check-up twice a year and free treatment in aleading hospitals of Delhi, she says.

The NGO in association with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will be alsoorganising regular education programmes for dhaba owners and unauthorisedroadside food vendors. There will be a concerted drive to highlight theissue of hygiene.

According to Abhinav Chaturvedi, a TV artist associated with this programme:``The main focus of this campaign is to create a more widespread awarenessof the seriousness of the environmental issues facing us today, to involvethe general consumers and garner their participation in the movement as wellas to motivate a greater participation from corporates.''

Sameer Kapoor, regional director of Carrier Aircon, agrees. He says, ``Sincewe are into the business of keeping the air clean, we want to be associatedwith more such programmes of not only keeping the city clean but to takecare of those children suffering from bronchial problems.''

As part of this "Clean Delhi" drive, the NGO also launched a signaturecampaign amongst the public. Approximately one lakh signatures will becollected and are to presented to the chief minister of Delhi on June 4 as asign of commitment of the citizens of Delhi on the subject of cleanlinessand sanitation.