Japanese citizen Kane Suzuki flags off RKM’s 3rd Shramadan of Swacchata Abhiyan
Mangaluru: Ramakrishna Mission Swacchata Abhiyan’s 3rd Shramadan was carried out at Collector’s Gate, Balmatta on 23rd December. The Shramadan was flagged off at 7.30 am by Kane Suzuki, a Japanese citizen and Dr Shashikumar Shetty, NSS Coordinator, Nitte University. Mentor Captain Ganesh Karnik, Convener Swami Ekagamyanandaji, Himmat Singh, Subhadra Bhat, Masa Hiro and many other volunteers were present at the venue.
Shramadan was carried out from Collector’s Gate in all the four directions. While Smt. Rajeshwari Vijayaraj & members of Nivedita Balaga cleaned the road leading towards Jyothi Circle, Smt. Vasanthi Nayak & other members cleaned the area towards Bendorewell. Kiran Fernandes & other senior volunteers cleaned the Balmatta Road, road dividers & reflectors. Several other initiatives were also carried out listed below.
Loads of heaps of concrete road debris and building materials besides an old building near Collector’s Gate was ruining the beauty of the city for the past several years. This morning volunteers under the guidance of Ashok Subbaiah, Dilraj Alva and others cleared the heaps using JCB & tipper. The spot was cleaned of stones, mud & garbage. Huge blocks of concrete slabs were removed thus converting the unused spot into public use. Big boulders and stones strewn across the path leading towards D C Bungalow were removed and the path was cleaned. The road direction board there was also repainted.
The barricades at Balmatta Collectors Gate circle were not only old but also occupying much space. They were replaced with new barricades today. Sandip Kodikal, Yogish Kayarthadka, Mukhesh Alva & other volunteers were instrumental in this work. Awareness Message of cleanliness has also been written on these barricades which occupy very less space thus benefitting the passers-by & easy vehicular movement. About 6 barricades have been placed in 60 feet area.
Heaps of garbage that was an eyesore near Balmatta Road were thoroughly cleaned by Chethana Gadiyar, Punith Poojari & other volunteers. Several flowering plants in pots have been kept in the spot giving it a facelift. The same model of transforming black spots of garbage dump yards into small gardens and parks in several parts of the city was successful in the past. This has also prevented people from littering in the area.
Local MCC corporator Naveen D’Souza, Mohan Kottari, Rajagopal Shetty, Ramachandra Shetty, Kishor Kumar, Prof. Radhakrishna, Prakash S T and many others participated in the Shramadan.
The 10th Special Shramadan of Swacch Surathkal Abhiyan consistently being carried out for the past 10 weeks was held on 22nd December below Surathkal Overbridge. The area below the Flyover and the surrounding areas were cleaned. Garbage dumping spots were transformed into a small garden with pots of flowering plants. This was followed by a small stage programme. Swami Ekagamyanandaji of Ramakrishna Mission was the chief guest and he addressed the gathering. Sri J D Veerappa, President of Surathkal Nagarika Salaha Samithi, Sri Rajamohan Rao, coordinator, Sri Satish Sadananda, organiser, Sri Sacchidananda, Sri Bharath Shetty, Sri Krishnamurthy & several others were present. More than 70 office bearers of different groups & NGOs participated in this programme. MRPL is sponsoring these drives.
Swami Chidambarananda (Chief Convener)
Swami Ekagamyananda, convener
Ramakrishna Mission Swacchata Abhiyan
Contact – 9448353162
It’s nice to see the RK missionaries, led by a missionary Swami clad in his missionary robes, conducting, with missionary zeal, the weekly/ monthly/annual/phased swacchata abhiyan as part of civil society contribution to the Swacch Bharat Mission(which in its earlier avatar, pre-2014, was named “total sanitation campaign” and “nirmal bharat abhiyan”). As is quite apparent, the previous names were totally uncatchy, unmissionary and unmarketable names not drawing people from around the world, film stars, sports-stars, captains and missionary-stars to crowd into the photo-frame. I particularly like the Warli art and other art works on the walls of the city as… Read more »