JOIN USRamakrishna Mission, which has been organising ‘Swacch Mangaluru Abhiyan’ for the past two-and-a-half years, is all set to extend the Abhiyan in rural areas too.
Ramakrishna Mission Head Swami Jitakamananda told reporters on the Math premises here on Friday that in a bid to create awareness, the Math is planning to initiate cleanliness drives in rural areas too.
As part of the initiative, the Math is organising a special workshop on May 28 which will be attended by representatives from more than 200 village panchayats of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi along with PDOs and elected representatives.
The workshop will be inaugurated by Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj H K Patil while MRPL MD Kumar H and Sahyadri Group of Institutions Chairman Manjunath Bha-ndary will be the guests.
Stating that many resource persons will address the delegates, Swami Jitakamananda said that Swami Ekagamyananda of Ramakrishna Math will be addressing the gathering on the topic, ‘Swacch Mangaluru – A novel initiative,’ while MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik will speak on the topic, ‘Swacch Manas – Swacch Bharatha’, MLC Kota Srinivasa Pujari will speak on ‘Swacch Grama novel dream’ and DK ZP CEO M R Ravi will speak on ‘Cleanliness as virtue’.
400th drive on Sunday
He also informed reporters that the 400th cleanliness drive will be held on May 28. The concluding programme of the third phase of Swacch Mangaluru Abhiyan will be held on June 11 wherein Ramakrishna Math and Mission vice president Swami Gautamananda Maharaj will preside over the programme while Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananthakumar will be the chief guest.
Arise Awake Park
Convener Swami Ekaga-myananda said that on the same day (June 11), a park will be inaugurated in front of Pavan Apartments in Karangalpady. The park was in a dilapidated condition as it was not maintained for a couple of years now.
Stating that the renovation work is well under progress, he said the park will have a 200-feet long and 8 ft broad acupressure track for walking, a first in Mangaluru city.
Apart from this, several flowering plants will be planted and seating arrangement will be provided for elders while lighting arrangements and fountain will also be erected, he said.
Corporator Prakash Salian and Umanath Kotekar were also present at the press meet.