‘ABC’ by Mata Amritanandamayi Math with MGM School Scouts/Guides/NCC
Amala Bharatam Campaign (ABC) by Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) along with Mahatma Gandhi Centenary High School, Bondel students of “Bharat Scouts and Guides’, ‘NCC’, ‘Amrita Vidyalayam’; and ‘Green Tree Organization’, near Bondel Circle and Vicinity.
“It is said that India is growing, that it is developing. However, in matters of environmental cleanliness and hygiene, we are lagging behind by centuries. Today, our beautiful India has become like a leprosy-stricken person. We should first strive to restore the purity, beauty, and health of this mother. Environmental cleanliness and hygiene are a part of the development and cultural refinement. For this to happen, we need to plan widespread awareness campaigns. We should mount enough signboards on environmental cleanliness in public places, bus stands, and roadsides. Our lack of cleanliness should never again become a cause for international embarrassment. We should consider the task of keeping our homes, environment and public places clean a sacred duty. Just as we eat and sleep, keeping our environment clean should become part of our daily lives. Just as we bathe daily in order to keep our bodies clean, and just as we use perfumes, we should ensure that we maintain the cleanliness of our roads and public places, which are parts of our country’s body.” – “Amma” Mata Amritanandamayi Devi-Founder of Mata Amritanandamayi Math
Mangaluru: In order to embrace new practical initiatives to clean India, promote health through hygiene, sort garbage, and properly dispose of waste; and also to make people more aware of the need to maintain environmental cleanliness, the “Amala Bharatam Campaign started by Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the Founder of ‘Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM)’, fondly called as “Amma” is a campaign aimed at cleaning India’s public places and national highways. Through this cleanliness drive, MAM hopes to raise social awareness of humanity’s debt to our beautiful earth and nature. Amma launched this project on her 57th Birthday celebrations on 27th Sep 2010. The local members of ‘Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM)’ organized “Amala Bharatam Campaign (ABC) in association with Mahatma Gandhi Centenary High School, Bondel students of “Bharat Scouts and Guides’, ‘NCC’, ‘Amrita Vidyalayam’; and ‘Green Tree Organization’, near Bondel Circle and Vicinity on Sunday, 3 September 2017 at 9 am.
The Cleanliness (Swachh) Campaign began with a prayer invoking God’s blessings through a prayer by Samriddhi R Kamath. Mata Amritanandamayi Seva Samiti Vice President Dr. Devadas welcoming the participants of the campaign said, ” Students need to create awareness on Swachha Bharat for Healthy and Beautiful environment. As initiated by “Amma” Sadguru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi we are conducting regular Cleanliness programs since May 2011. Now MRPL is sponsoring for upgrading ABC and Extension of Swachha Bharat Program”.
“As Amma has asked that all of us take a vow to clean our surroundings, and since She believes that if the people, government and other organizations work together, this sacred endeavour will certainly bear fruit, we have taken up this initiative in cleaning our surroundings. Maintaining cleanliness and thus safeguarding health are, as far as every Indian is concerned, a duty to our motherland; necessary for a harmonious relation between humanity and nature; and an unavoidable obligation to the coming generation. As far as every human being is concerned, it is his or her personal dharma or duty. Through its large-scale efforts at environmental cleanliness and social hygiene, the MAM aims to bring about a clean India” added Dr Devdas.
The followers/devotees of “Amma” have formed committees to take responsibility for cleaning their locality, approximately one committee for every two kilo metres, because they believe that a chain of such committees could really bring about a massive transformation. These committees ensure that their localities have trash cans in various places as well as signs telling people not to throw trash on the roadside or to spit- and also that the waste should be collected regularly and properly disposed of. Sr Matilda- Headmistress of MGC High School, Scout Master Santhosh, NCC officer AM George motivated and urged the Scouts and guides, and also the NCC to keep the school campus clean, and also the neighbouring locations where they live. Environmentalist Krishnappa K recited a few slogans pertaining to Cleanliness and green environment, and the participants repeated after him.
Prithvee V Salian, and Ravalnath Kamath-President and Vice president of Green Tree Organization; Smt. Radha Bai- Board Member Chaitanya Mahila Mandala, Ramadas Pai- a representative from Mangalore Airport; Vasudev Bolur, Program Co ordinator Environmentalist Parisara Krishnappa K, Krishnamurthi, Ravi Uchil, all members of Mata Amritanandamayi Seva Samiti helped out during the campaign. Students joined by other vol cleaned the area on Airport road. Bondel Junction, MGC School premises and other locations in that area.
In conclusion, I think it is a very good initiative taken by the Amma Math Samithi members, joined by other organizations with a strong motto to see that Mangaluru is kept clean under “Amma’s” Amala Bharatam Campaign and PM Modi’s “Swachh Bharath Abhiyan”. Cleaning is not only the responsibility of the MCC laborers? Do Mangaloreans have no role in this? We have to change this mindset. Indians have reached Mars- it was the people who did it, our scientists who did it. Not Amma or PM Modi. So can’t we create a Clean India?. If this is evaluated by a photo-opportunity, then we would be doing a disservice to the nation. We all must come together and do this (clean India) wherever we are. This is not about Amma or Modi…They are only two persons among nearly 1.2 billion people in India.
This is a people’s task. We all can do it. For that matter, these volunteers of the Math, students of MGM and members of other organizations have done a great job of cleaning- and now it’s also the responsibility of the general public to see that they don’t litter the place again which has been cleaned with dedication and community service by these volunteers.
Well, while these volunteers and rest of the citizens are trying to keep city clean, the government should also cooperate in providing enough dustbins/garbage bins and also enough toilets. The govt officials should also join hands with the volunteers and note how the Swacch Bharath campaign is progressing. Thank You!
Watch the YouTube on Amala Bharatam Campaign (ABC):
