Mangaluru: As part of the 40 weeks Cleanliness Drive being undertaken by the Ramakrishna Mission and 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. Under this mission organized by the Ashram, the student volunteers will assemble in the Ashrama on every Saturday evenings for an evening retreat, “Swacch Manas” where they are taught meditation, bhajans and inculcation of values of social responsibility.
Since the launch of this project, Ramakrishna Mission carried out “Swacch Mangaluru for Swacch Bharath” – cleanliness drive on 5th consecutive Sunday on 8th March at M G Road – Jail Road – SDM College Campus -Hampankatta (in front of University College) and so on. About 150 PG and degree students from SDM, students from Government college-Car Street, and other prestigious institutions, devotees and well wishers of our Ashrama and other eminent persons took part in the cleanliness drive lasting for nearly 3 hours in the morning. Swami Jitakamanandaji-(Adhyaksha, Ramakrishna Math, Mangaluru), Dr Devaraj,(Director, SDM PG inst,) Dr Jeevaraj Sorake, (MD, SCS Hospital) flagged off the 6th week’s drive in SDM college campus.
While some of the volunteers from SDM college on Sunday cleaned their college campus and the surrounding areas, they also cleared the compound walls of their College, painted the walls, and from there proceeded towards Jail Road to clean that vicinity. Yet another group of volunteers cleared the dumping sites opp. University College in Hampankatta, also relaid the stone slabs over open drains for public utility and cleared the spaces of garbage to provide more parking space to public vehicles. The volunteers even swept the pedestrian pathway which was littered with filth. Swacch Bharath Awareness Message Pamphlets were distributed among the public in that area.
I think it 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”. Remember when PM Modi had said, “Is cleaning only the responsibility of the karamcharis? Do citizens of India have no role in this? We have to change this mindset. We reached Mars. No PM or Minister went. It was the people who did it, our scientists who did it. 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 Modi… Modi is only one of its 1.2 billion people… This is a people’s task. India can do it. People of India can do it.”. 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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while launching his nationwide cleanliness campaign, the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ or ‘Clean India Campaign’ on 2 October 2014 (Gandhi Jayanthi Day) had asked India’s 1.25 billion people to join the ‘SwachhBharatMission’ and promote it to everyone. Addressing the nation Modi had said, ” “We have gained freedom under leadership of Gandhiji, but his dream of clean India is still unfulfilled. Swachh Bharat Campaign logo is not just a logo, through it Gandhiji’s watching us and we all should clean India. Be it temples, mosques, gurudwaras or any place, we must take efforts to clean our surroundings. Swachh Bharat mission is beyond politics. It is inspired by patriotism and not politics. The work is to be done by all Indians. This campaign is for 1.2 billion people and I repeat it 1.2 billion times. This work is not only about a ‘prachar abhiyan’. It is a big effort but we have a lot of time.” Yes, the members of Ramakrishna Mission took PM Modi’s words very seriously and did launch this Clean Drive Project of 40 weeks, in order to have Clean India/Clean Mangaluru.
Yes, with PM Modi and his government launching a mission called, Swacch Bharat, where our PM took broom for seconds, so did big people who would never know how to catch a broom in a lifetime. Now if the streets are dirty again, there are reasons, one of them there aren’t enough garbage bins to throw garbage, and worse, no public toilets, and then you are forced to dirty up the place, it could be citizens mistake, and in the same time, government’s too for not providing better facilities. We need more than some media campaign, we need some real groundwork being done from government. You want me to not litter, well then provide me garbage bins, you dont want me to pee on the roadside, well have public toilets installed etc etc. Well, while Ramakrishna Mission 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
Let’s learn something about Ramakrishna Mission and it’s Swachh Bharath Campaign:
Ramakrishna Mission, Mangalore is a branch of the worldwide organization, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrsihna Mission started by Swami Vivekananda, a century ago. Since its inception in Mangalore more than six decades back, the Ashrama has initiated several welfare activities for the benefit of the needy. Their main focus has been instilling values in youths, students, teachers, professionals and corporates. All their programmes have received compliments and praises to the quality, content and commitment of their institution for the ideal it represents.
What is Swacch Mangaluru for Swacch Bharath?
On special request from Govt. of India and suggestion from our Headquarters, Mangalore Ramakrishna Mission has taken up “Swacch Bharath Abhiyan” in Mangalore city. They launched “Swacch Mangaluru for Swacch Bharath” programme which was inaugurated on the 1st February 2015 at a grand function attended by about 1500 youths, general public and several eminent men of repute. They also honored about 75 sweepers and other workers of City Corporation as a token of respect for their services in keeping the city clean.
Why only Ramakrishna Mission?
Cleaning the nation is not a day’s job. Neither can this be achieved by just govt agencies. It demands participation from each and every responsible citizen. Ramakrishna Mission has always stood in the forefront in the service of the society. They seize this opportunity to serve the nation through leading from the front by taking up this cleanliness drive. Coupled with their concern is the special request from Govt. of India.
How? – The Action Plan
In a nutshell, the Abhiyan involves about 4000 youths and volunteers cleaning the city and improving basic amenities under the aegis of Ramakrishna Mission for 40 consecutive Sundays. They have already completed 5 successful drives in different localities which have been listed elsewhere. In addition, they are also conducting “Swachh Manas for Swachh Bharath” – an evening with their young volunteers who join their hands in the cleanliness drive. As they assemble in the Ashrama on Saturdays, they will be taught meditation, briefed about our activities, the need for this programme, creating an awareness among them regarding their social responsibilities and inculcating values among them through interaction, discourse and bhajans etc. They are also provided food, tea, snacks and accommodation.
What is the Drive about?
This Initiative includes: Cleaning roads and public places; Awareness programme through distribution of literature (about 1500 persons every week); 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.
When do they have the Drive?
Volunteers assemble in the Ashrama on every Saturday evenings for an evening retreat. On Sunday for about three hours in the morning the drive is being carried out by the volunteers. Volunteers shall be having this drive for 40 weeks. This cleanliness Drive will be held in 2015-16 in the first phase.
Want to know ,Where they have left the mark till now?
Some of the localities that have witnessed Swachh Mangaluru for Swachh Bharath drive are as follows: Mangaladevi; Jeppu; Marnamikatte; Mulihithlu; Morgans’ Gate; Service Bus Stand; Rao & Rao Circle; State Bank Area; Road Connecting Bunder; Hamapanakatte;Railway Station Road; Police Quarters; G.H.S. Road; Opp.Tokyo Market; Near Janata Bazar; Road connecting Car Street; Attavar; Babugudda; Opp. Easy Day Super Market-Attavar; Near KMC Hospital and M G Road.
The main prop of their 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.
To review the past few programmes and to present before their supporters and well-wishers Ramakrishna Mission is bringing out a pictorial booklet which portrays the progress that they have made in the past five weeks, the challenges that were ahead of them and how they melted before the zealous dedication and commitment of their volunteers. Each picture will speak in volumes. They hope the booklet will motivate youngsters and well-wishers to join their programme in hundreds and contribute their mite in the nation building process. With six weeks already passed of Swachh Mangaluru for Swachh Bharath Programme and thirty four weeks’ drive still ahead, the organizers hope, by the grace of the Almighty and with the support of generous public and youth they will complete this herculean task and ensure a better tomorrow for the future generations.
If anyone is interested in joining this “Swachh Mangaluru for Swachh Bharath” programme undertaken by Ramakrishna Mission can call 0824-2414412 or 9448353162