City warms up to Swachh Bharat campaign

MYSORE : Coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, MP Pratap Simha inaugurated the cleanliness drive 'Swachh Railway, Swachh Bharat' at the Mysore railway station %on Thursday.
"A Prime Minister leads by example. In the past, when a PM indulged in the Bofors scam, gram pachayat members too took to corruption," said Pratap Simha, in an apparent taunt directed at the previous Congress government led by Rajiv Gandhi."Now, when a PM hits the streets with a broomstick in his hand, naturally others will follow him in keeping their surroundings and, in turn, the entire country clean," he added.
He exhorted the citizens to do their bit in keeping their surrounding clean so that the combined efforts of millions of people could change the face of India significantly. "We have to learn from the developed nations about cleanliness. Engagement of common citizens in the initiative will bring in optimal results and it is every individual's responsibility to keep the country clean," added Pratap.
Rajkumar Lal, divisional railway manager, SWR, said it would take time to change the established mindset. Looking at the enormous response of many organizations like Let's Do It, Lions Club International and others who turned out in large numbers to support the Railways in this campaign, he said he was confident that the momentum would continue in the days to come. "The campaign is spread across the division covering 70 stations and trains and monitored by senior railway officials in major stations and senior supervisors/ station-in-charge in minor stations," added Rajkumar.
He also mentioned that to keep trains neat and clean, an official will be made in-charge of each train," said Rajkumar.
K Shivanna, former MP and chairperson for the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis, who was present on the occasion, called upon the railway to strictly enforce statutory guidelines with respect to safety gears like masks, hand gloves and gum boots to be provided to safai karmacharis engaged by contractors appointed by the railway administration.
Later, a pledge was administered to all railway employees %that neither will they throw garbage nor will they let anyone do %it. It was a working day for the railway employees to clean up their respective offices.
Brooms in hand, they hit streets
Government employees, political party leaders and workers, members of NGOs and other social organizers, individuals, school and college students and NSS volunteers were among those who enthusiastically swept the streets and footpaths in city on Thursday. Students also took out rallies to create awareness among people on keeping their surroundings clean.
Active participation in Mandya
People from all walks of life actively participated in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan carried out across Mandya district on Thursday.General public, government employees and people's representatives wielded brooms and took part in the abhiyan.
Mandya MP C S Puttaraju kick started the abhiyan at Mandya railway station after paying floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate Gandhi Jayanti. He and scores of volunteers cleaned the railway station premises.
Puttaraju said that every Indian should be committed to the abhiyan and help realize Gandhi's dream of clean India into reality. "We should heed Gandhi's call for a clean Bharat. We should reserve a few hours in a month to clean our surroundings," he said.DC Ajay Nagabhushan and other senior officers also took part in the abhiyan. The DC and officers took a pledge to carry forward the abhiyan.People and various social organizations voluntarily joined the campaign in Mandya city by cleaning their environs