Keeping ‘Bharatha, Bharatha, Bharatha’ in Mind, Ramakrishna Math launches 5th Phase Swacchata Abhiyan on Sunday, 2 December 2018 at 9 am
Mangaluru: With no doubt we can say that Ramakrishna Mission’ is on a ‘Mission’ to Make ‘Namma Mangaluru, Swachha Mangaluru’- With nearly 4000 volunteers, over 400 drives, over 40 teams and nearly 40 plus weeks, Ramakrishna Mission is looking forward to accomplish their goal in making Mangaluru much cleaner than it was before. This campaign which was initiated on the 1st February 2015, has been going on in full swing, with many volunteers from schools/colleges/organizations coming forward to take part in this unique project in order to make Mangaluru a cleaner city, under the campaign “Swachh Bharath” launched by PM Modi. And after completing 4th Phase of “Swacchata Abhiyana”, Ramakrishna Mission has now launched into its 5th Phase of this Abhiyana- and this is the First Sunday of the “Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan” among the nearly 40 weeks that are scheduled during this year’s campaign, which concludes before the monsoon starts..
This is a very good initiative taken by Ramakrishna Mission with a strong motto to see that Mangaluru is kept clean under PM Modi’s “Swachh Bharath Abhiyan”. Yes, volunteers under the guidance of Ramakrishna Mission are doing a great job of cleaning, but 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. The members and volunteers of Ramakrishna Mission took PM Modi’s words very seriously and did launch this Clean Drive Project of nearly 40 plus weeks, in order to have Clean India/Clean Mangaluru. The Initiative of the Cleanliness Drive includes: Cleaning roads and public places; Dismantling illegal hoardings/banners; Awareness programme through distribution of literature ; Urgent & minor road repairs; Clearance of drainage and garbage; Renovation of dilapidated and neglected bus shelters; Painting and beautification of compound wall; Clearing non-usable dumping places for public utility; Developing gardens and planting saplings at road medians; Adopting a few roads; Planting saplings on roadsides; and Cleaning and painting in the govt. school premises.
The inaugural programme of “Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan” was held on Sunday, 2 December at the Ramakrishna Math Hall, where volunteers of the Swachh Campaign namely students and general public packed the hall. The programme began with prayer chanting by Brahmacharis of the Math, followed by welcome address by Capt Ganesh Karnik, the convener/Advisor of the campaign. Capt Ganesh Karnik gave a brief description of the Swachh Campaign, followed by an introduction of the Abhiyan by Swami Ekagamanandaji, Co-ordinator of Ramakrishna Mission, where he said, ” As our main intention is to create awareness among the masses about cleanliness, and we want to involve more and more public in the drives by forming different group of volunteers participating in the drives in different parts of the City. We have already reached our 5th Phase of Swacchata Abhiyana and I wish to thank all the volunteers and well-wishers and patrons for their unstinted support. Today being the First Sunday of the nearly 40 plus Sundays left during the Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan, I invite all the interested persons, who feel in their small action lies in the future of our great nation, to come forward and join this mighty cause”.
The programme was inaugurated by lighting of the lamp by chief guest Swami Shivapremanandaji -Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Jalpaiguri-West Bengal; along with other guests of honor namely- Swami Jitakamananda -the Secretary of Ramakrishna Math, Mangaluru; Venkatesh M-Managing Director, MRPL, Mangaluru; Capt Ganesh Karnik- Former MLC/Coordinator; Bhaskar K- MCC Mayor; Dr N Vinaya Hegde- Chairman, Nitte Education Trust; and Vedavyas Kamath- MLA. In his inaugural address, Swami Shivapremanandaji said, ” This Ashram has been progressing and reaching greater heights under the leadership and guidance of Swami Jitakamanandaji, and we should all commend them for their efforts and hard work in promoting this Cleanliness Campaign. Our home, our surrounding, our streets, our City- we should all think and try to keep it clean because next to Godliness is cleanliness. Its nice to see all you youngsters, adults and seniors have come forward with dedication and commitment to a part of this Swachhata Abhiyan. Best of luck and May Swami Vivekananda bless you all”
“They alone live, who live for others”, said Swami Vivekananda, and If there is someone in need and you can help, do step-in and offer your support. Always think from the shoes of other person who you are dealing with. While making a comment or doing an action, think once “How would I feel, if someone says or does this to me?”.Similarly Ramakrishna and their volunteers are doing a great service to the community through this Abhiyan. So let’s live for the world. But this does not mean one needs to compromise something for self; sometimes you need to be selfish without harming other person. Let us keep ‘Bharatha, Bharatha, Bharatha in our mind, and see that we see our India clean. Have a joyful day ahead. I wish this 5th Phase of the Abhiyan all success”. added Swami Shiva
Managing Director Venkatesh M of MRPL in his speech said that his company is proud to be associated with Ramakrishna Mission for the last three-plus years, and will continue to support this cleanliness campaign in future also- and MRPL has already sanctioned the required amount for various Swachh Abhiyans to be conducted by various organizations, including Ramakrishna Mission. Dr Vinaya Hegde, Mayor Bhaskar K and MLA Vedavyas Kamath also spoke and extended their full support from their side to the Swacchata Abhiyan, and asked Ramakrishna Mission to contact them in case they need any help from their side.
Swami Jitakamanandaji, the Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, Mangaluru said, “It gladdens our heart to share with you that Swacch Bharath Abhiyan launched by our Ashrama in response to a special appeal made by the Honorable Prime Minister is entering the 5th and final phase. Thanks to the wholehearted support of thousands of our volunteers and cooperation from hundreds of NGOs, the Abhiyan has become a mass movement awakening a sense of responsibility among the citizens and the change all around is tangible. To transform this awakening into a strong indelible habit among the people which will result in Swacch Bharath, we have planned five different domains in the 5th phase”.
He further said, “Focus will be on training each and every awakened household to convert their waste into wealth through various means thus tackling the problem of waste generation in the root level by using Pot Compost. We are trying our best to keep Mangaluru Green and Clean, but most of all the mindset of the people has to be changed. They need to use their common sense in keeping their surroundings clean, only then we can expect a clean Bharath, as well as Mangaluru. I look forward for the support from all the citizens to make our 5th phase of Swacchata Abhiyan a success. Let’s make a difference”.
A Pot Compost kit was handed over to Umanath Kotian, the coordinator of the Abhiyan and Cleaning items were handed over to Dilraj Alva also a coordinator on the occasion. The vote of thanks was proposed by Smitha Shenoy-lecturer at Besant Women’s College, and also the compere of the programme. The First Sunday of Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan drive was flagged off by all the dignitaries who were on the dais during the formal inaugural ceremony- the flag off was done near the entrance of the Math- followed by the respective teams getting into the cleaning work in and around Mangaladevi area.
In conclusion, the main prop of the Ramakrishna Mission programme has been the dedication and commitment of youth volunteers and students from different institutions in and around Mangaluru. Added to their dynamism is the devoted service and zeal of our devotees – well-wishers and friends who have continually supported the Ashram. Govt. officials and agencies have also lent all the possible help in this programme. Other programmes to be conducted during the 5th phase of the Swacchata Abhiyan are :
Swacchata Sampark Abhiyan:
Cleanliness drives are more effective if awareness campaigns go together. Hence about 500 groups and NGOs are being approached to carry out 300 Swacchata Awareness Campaigns in different parts of Mangaluru City every evening for 90 minutes. Awareness about cleanliness & hygiene, Duties and responsibilities of citizens in keeping their surroundings clean, Practical demonstration of pot compost in the backdrop of ‘our waste is our responsibility”, distribution of awareness handbills and pots for pot compost are the main features of this daily Abhiyan. Volunteers from Ramakrishna Mission address the members of these NGOs and groups in different localities daily. Already 400 NGOs have shown interest and four months programmes have been chalked out. About 5000 pot compost units will be disbursed among the interested citizens.
Swacch Mangaluru for Swacch Bharath Shramadan:
About 3 hours of Shramadan will be carried out for the next 44 weeks in different parts of Mangaluru city. About 200 volunteers will clean the streets, drains and public toilets, Fixing and renewing direction boards, fixing and renewal of bus & auto shelters, transforming dumping yards into small parks or gardens, beautification of fly-overs, removal of illegal flex banners and hoardings, distribution of awareness handbills etc. benefitting the common public.
Swacch Manas:
To create awareness among the students who would be future citizens Swacch Manas programmes will be carried out in 100 selected schools for five consecutive months starting from June 2019. 100 students each from 100 schools will be selected and given special training as Swacch Ambassadors and they will be motivated through several workshops and activities to work towards Swacch Bharath.
Swacch Soch :
Workshops in 50 Colleges: Swacch Soch Seminars & workshops will be held in selected 50 colleges of Dakshina Kannada & Udupi Districts from 2018 December to 2019 February. Trained resource persons will address & interact with the youths through practical demonstrations, lectures & Question and answer sessions. This will be followed by University level and District Level Seminars/Paper Presentations.
Swacch Gram Abhiyan :
Swacch Dakshina Kannada/Swacch Udupi: In the last phase Swacch Gram Abhiyan were carried out in about 100 villages of Dakshina Kannada Dist. This will be expanded to 100 more villages of Udupi Districts too in this phase. 2000 Abhiyans will be carried out in 200 villages of D.K. and Udupi Districts with the support & cooperation of Zilla Panchayats and District administrations. About 100 people from each village will be selected and one of them will be made convener to coordinate the cleanliness drives once in a month for the next 10 month starting from December 2018. Ramakrishna Mission will support them with T-shirts, cleaning equipment etc.
Launching Sawcch Soch Seminars:
Swacch Soch Seminar will be launched on Monday, 4th December at 9 am at Ramakrishna Mission in the presence of Swami Jitakamanandaji, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Mangaluru and Swami Bodhamayanandaji, Director, Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence, Hyderabad. It will be inaugurated by B H V Prasad, GGM, MRPL, Mangalore. Vishal Hegde, Pro-Chancellor, Nitte University will be the Chief Guest. Captain Ganesh Karnik will be a Special Invitee. The inaugural programme will be followed by 2 interactive sessions, by Swami Bodhamayanandaji on topic, “Transforming self to transform society” and Dr Vivek Modi, Corporate Trainer, Hyderabad on the topic, “Practicality of Purity in Modern Times”.
IF ANYONE NEEDS MORE DETAILS OR WANT TO VOLUNTEER IN THE SWACHHATA ABHIYAN CAN CALL SWAMI EKAGAMANANDAJI AT 9448353162