Indian Railways to Operate Special Trains for 'Meri Maati, Mera Desh' Campaign

• 23 Oct 2023

Recently, Indian Railways is set to run special trains to facilitate the transportation of volunteers carrying soil from various State capitals and major stations across the nation.

• These volunteers will converge in New Delhi on October 29 as part of the 'Meri Maati, Mera Desh' (My soil, my country) campaign, organized by the Ministry of Culture.

Key Points

• Campaign Overview: The 'Meri Maati, Mera Desh' campaign aims to honour the sacrifices of Veers and Veeranganas (bravehearts) for the country.
• Approximately 20,000 volunteers, each carrying an urn (kalash) filled with soil, will reach Delhi to participate in events concluding the year-long Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Soil Collection: Volunteers will collect soil from households as a mark of respect for those who sacrificed their lives.
• In cases where soil is unavailable, people can contribute a grain of rice.
• The collected soil will be used in the 'Amrit Vatika,' a special garden in Delhi, and the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' memorial.
• Railway Assistance: The Ministry of Railways will operate special 'Amrit Kalash Yatri' trains, add extra coaches to scheduled trains, and release berths from the Emergency Quota to facilitate volunteer transportation.
• These trains will make halts at major stations for volunteers to meet local Members of Parliament, celebrities, and officials. The return journey from Delhi to respective destinations will occur on November 1.
• Role of Railways: The Railways clarified that the program is organized by the Ministry of Culture, and the Railways' role is to provide transportation and food for the volunteers.
• The absence of participants from certain states might be due to a lack of coordination with nodal officers in those regions.