Udupi: A youth who is undertaking nationwide cycle yatra to bring awareness about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan reached the temple town on Thursday, July 23.
Abhishek Kumar Sharma, aged 29, from Fatehgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is on a nationwide bicycle tour to spread awareness for the cause of cleanliness and sanitation. A MSc,MPhil degree holder, Abhishek was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who himself cleaned the garbage outside the Mandir Marg Police Station in New Delhi on October 2, 2014.
Abhishek started his bicycle cleanliness mission from Fatehgarh on November 10 2014. He has travelled 14 states covering 10,900 kilometres till date and reached Udupi on Thursday. His father Brijesh Kumar Sharma is a police officer in Bareilly, his brother is a scientist in Karnal and his younger sister is pursuing her education. All of them support his cause, for which he stepped out of his house with a backpack, a laptop for presentations, a DSLR, internet dongle and a smart phone.
Speaking to mediapersons, Abhishek said that he was inspired by the Prime Minister’s call for Swachh Bharat. To undertake this journey and to motivate people towards the cause, he resigned from his job and ensured that he devotes an entire year to the cause of Swachh Bharat. He has planned to cover 29 states and three union territories and raise awareness about personal hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness. “If I can sensitise even one person in each city or village, I will think that my initiative has been successful,” says Abhishek.
He said, “For the last nine months, I have been travelling on the bicycle, spreading the message of Swachh Bharat by giving lectures in colleges, universities, government and private organisations throughout the country. Till date, I have lectured in about 2,478 schools and colleges, and I feel that there is a need to bring about a change in the attitude and mindset of the people.”
He says that he has given one year of his life to the nation, and by doing so, he is trying to fulfill his responsibility towards his motherland. He feels that the nation is going through a rigorous transition phase and everyone has to come forward to ensure that the country is able to adapt to major changes in the coming years.
We need these abhisheks in every family. The ‘swachcha bhaaratha’ campaign will succeed only when we change our approach towards cleanliness.
Dear readers, Indians gained freedom under the leadership of Gandhiji, but his dream of a clean India is still unfulfilled. Mahatma Gandhi said “Sanitation is more important than independence”. He made cleanliness and sanitation an integral part of the Gandhian way of living. His dream was total sanitation for all. Cleanliness is most important for physical well-being and a healthy environment. It has bearing on public and personal hygiene. It is essential for everyone to learn about cleanliness, hygiene, sanitation and the various diseases that are caused due to poor hygienic conditions. The habits learnt at a young age get… Read more »