The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan may have been one of the most positive initiatives undertaken by the Centre, but the BMC says that despite its efforts, Mumbaikars have not shown much enthusiasm towards the program.
Real work done by our workers goes unnoticed: BMC
The civic body alleged that drives by high-profile celebrities and politicians are nothing more than photo-ops, while the real faces behind all the hard work, BMC's own workers, go unnoticed.
“This concept requires public support. But so far, it seems that people are not keen on joining us,” complained an official who did not wish not to be named. He also said that dignitaries taking part in the drive too is a farce. “They click photos and fade away. Celebrities help us spread awareness, but it is our men who do the real job and they too must be appreciated,” he said, referring to a cleanliness drive they undertook in Dharavi, in which politicos and a spiritual group participated.
“Participants of the drive were cleaning up a road which was already made refuse-free by our men. We are not against VIPs or any group, rather, we want them to join us. But our men too must get due recognition,” the official said.
Protest march to expose Swachh Bharat phonies
Milind Ranade, general secretary of the Kachra Vahtuk Shramik Sangh, said they are set to carry out a protest march ‘to bring out the truth behind celebrity participation’ in the Swachh Bharat campaign during a rally from Byculla to Azad Maidan on November 26. The union has also prepared a 200 ft-long banner displaying the difference between participation of celebrities/VIPs and conservancy staff in the cleanliness program through photos.
“A Bollywood actor, a renowned cricketer and political heavyweights participating in the program is nothing but ‘nautanki’. We intend to expose these people. Recently, an on-duty woman conservancy staffer died after a truck hit her in Thane. An average of 25 BMC conservancy staffers die every month. These staffers are the genuine workers not getting due recognition,” Ranade added.
BMC too needs to pull up its socks: Activist
However, Nikhil Desai, a Kings Circle-based civic activist, was of the view that civic officials too need to ensure proper co-ordination among different departments to encourage people. “We had planned a drive at Dadar TT bridge and had to really struggle getting permission for the venue. I was made to run from one civic office to another. Why doesn't BMC doesn’t ensure that people wanting to keep the city clean get permission without hindrance?” Desai asked.
Prakash Patil, deputy municipal commissioner (solid waste management), refrained from commenting on issues like celebrity participation, but said, “We want as many people as possible to take part in the drive. Our team is there to help public to achieve the dream of clean Mumbai.”
How BMC implements Swachh Bharat
The civic body has been implementing the program at its offices on Fridays through shramdaan (voluntary work). For the public, it has been organizing shramdaan on Saturdays for two hours, normally beginning at 11:30 am for the past two months across 227 pre-decided locations. It has also been sharing a list of venues for a week at www.mcgm.gov.in, under the tab ‘Swachcha Bharat Abhiyan Shramdan Program’. On the day of shramdaan, it makes available required equipment like brooms, dust pans, trash cans, etc. The garbage collected is then transported by the corporation.
How much trash we generate
The city generates around 10,000 metric tonnes of refuse daily. Of this, 7,500 metric tonnes is municipal waste, and the remaining is construction debris.
The average per capita per day waste generated in Mumbai is 450 gm.
BMC has nearly 6,000 garbage bins installed at 3,600 collection points.
It collects refuse using around 1,100 vehicles and dumps it in three dumpyards at Deonar, Kanjurmarg and Mulund
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