The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) actively participated in the Special Campaign 4.0, held from October 2 to October 31, 2024, with a focus on “Swachhata” (cleanliness). This effort aligned with the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission and was marked by the “Swachhata Hi Seva 2024” initiative, under the theme ‘Swabhav Swachhata Sanskaar Swachhata (4S) campaign,’ promoting large-scale public engagement in cleanliness efforts.
CBIC’s campaign addressed key backlogs, resolved public grievances, and cleared obsolete items to optimize office spaces. Highlights from the campaign include:
– Resolution of 433 public grievances, 80 appeals, and five parliamentary references.
– Elimination of 27,656 outdated physical files from a review of 49,667 files.
– Organization of 819 cleanliness events across CBIC offices and public spaces.
– Disposal of 17,121 kg of scrap, generating approximately ₹3.80 lakh and freeing 16,706 square feet of office space.
– Destruction of narcotics, foreign cigarettes, and contraband worth ₹460 crore by Delhi Customs (Preventive) and Customs (Airport and General) Commissionerates, along with ₹5.5 crore worth of smuggled cigarettes destroyed by Vijayawada Customs Commissionerate.
CBIC also implemented sustainable practices across customs and GST offices. A bio-gas plant was established at Customs Colony, Vapi, converting waste into energy. The CGST Faridabad Commissionerate repurposed abandoned rooms into a cafeteria and a crèche, while CGST Jaipur Zone planted 11,000 saplings of native species using an innovative water-saving afforestation method. Additionally, a cleanliness drive at Valappu Beach in Cochin saw the participation of over 400 officers and students.
CBIC amplified the impact of its Swachhata efforts by sharing around 200 posts on social media, aiming to continue these practices and sustain positive changes throughout the year.
