New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS): Thousands of old, unclassified files, CDs, and other material have been destroyed by different departments of the Indian Army as a part of its cleanliness mission, sources said.

The exercise under the newly launched 'Swachhta Hi Sewa Hai' mission saw heaps of redundant material being destroyed. 

The Military Intelligence wing, at its South Block office alone destroyed around 3,000 CDs, 850 video cassettes, 32 computers and large number of other documents.

As per sources, the disposed off items weighed around 3,500 kg.

The source added that destroying of old items which are not of use any longer is a routine exercise, but the 'Swachhta Hi Sewa Hai' mission launched on Friday gave it a bigger push.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to make cleanliness a people's movement, the Defence Ministry came up with the action plan for overall cleanliness drive.

The campaign will run from September 15 to October 2.

Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra on Friday administered Swachhta Shapath (cleanliness oath) to officers and staff of the Defence Ministry. During the 18-day campaign areas in and outside South Block and Sena Bhawan will be cleaned.

It would include arrangement of dustbins at prominent places for segregating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste; discarding of old junks; cleaning of parking lots, corridors, staircases, and lifts in both the buildings. The campaign also includes competition on poem, slogan and essays on Swachhta.