Amala Bharatam Campaign for Swachh Bharath-Mangaluru
“India is an atomic power. India is scientifically and economically advancing. Many reports say India is poised to be the third largest power in the world by 2025. But in terms of cleanliness, we still are in diapers.” – Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma )
“Tourists are usually welcomed by beautiful girls. But what these tourists see of our motherland when they go out is a filthy country. Actually, they have become to see beautiful India, but we don’t realize this. 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.” – Amma
“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
Mangaluru: Every year under the guidance of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi who launched the Amala Bharatam Campaign (ABC) projects towards Swachh Bharath and Swachh Mangaluru are organized by the local chapter of ABC. The motto of the campaign is to create a strong civic sense to the people so that they could independently look after and protect their own neighbourhoods to upkeep hygienic circumstances for a healthier living. Additionally, it hopes to raise the social awareness of humanity’s debt to our beautiful earth and nature.
To kick-off “Swachh Bharath Mission” which was originally launched on October 2, 2014, ABC-Mangaluru along with NSS- Milagres Degree College-Mangaluru, NSS of Roshni Nilaya School of Social Work-Mangaluru and Youth Red Cross-Mangaluru Chapter engaged themselves in the cleaning work around the Lady Goschen Hospital premises on Sunday, 25 September. Speaking during the clean-up drive, Dr Devdas- the Vice President of Mata Amritanandamayi Math-Mangaluru said, “This is a campaign aimed at cleaning India’s public places and national highways. Through this cleanliness drive, we 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. All of us should take a vow to clean our surroundings, and if the people, government and other organizations work together, this sacred endeavour will certainly bear fruit.”
Dr Rajesh – Hon. Secretary of Indian Red Cross urged the students to maintain cleanliness not just today but every day. Through this campaign we embrace new practical initiatives to clean India, promote health through hygiene, sort garbage, and properly dispose of waste; and make people more aware of the need to maintain environmental cleanliness. Madhava Suvarna- Coordinator of ABC speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “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 ABC aims to bring about a clean India, and for that matter, clean Mangaluru”.
Sudeep, an active member of Youth Wing of Mata Amritanandamayi Math-Mangaluru said, “What Amma says -‘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. The lack of cleanliness in our roads and public bathrooms and toilets is proof of this. Western countries maintain high standards of cleanliness on roads, in public places as well as in public bathrooms and toilets. In contrast, the standard of cleanliness in roads and public toilets in India is appalling. It has become a habit for people to urinate by roadsides and to spit on public roads and pavements. Even if there are trash cans present, they are not in the habit of disposing of litter and food waste in these bins; they discard them by the side of the road or even in the middle of the road. Environmental cleanliness and hygiene are a part of the development and cultural refinement”.
Ravindranath Uchil- state Member of Indian Red Cross, and Krishnappa K- an active environmentalist also took an active part in today’s Swachh Bharath campaign. Nearly 100 students from these two colleges along with few employees of Lady Goschen Hospital cleaned the dirty areas in the hospital premises. In conclusion, it’s always advisable to clean our surroundings clean. 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.
Take a good look at these real heroes. Nobody is giving them a paisa, let alone 2000 koti rupaayess. These individuals are spending their own money and doing this with a pure intention to make our city a better place to live. The White-shirts are not to be seen in these pics as there is no money here!! Media should make a note of this!!!