Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil will visit Odisha on Thursday to take part in various activities under the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign, aimed at promoting sanitation and cleanliness in rural areas, officials said on Wednesday.

Paatil will be accompanied by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi as they jointly review the state’s progress in waste management, Open Defecation-Free (ODF) Plus status, and other sanitation efforts under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G).

As part of the visit, the minister will also participate in a tree plantation drive at Suando village, the birthplace of Utkalamani Pandit Gopabandhu Das, under the ‘Ek ped maa ke naam’ initiative, which encourages tree planting in honor of mothers.

This visit highlights the central government’s focus on enhancing rural sanitation, with Odisha playing a crucial role in achieving nationwide cleanliness goals.