The seventh round of shramadaan under Phase 5 of the Ramakrishna Mission Swacchata Abhiyan was carried out in the surroundings of the Mangaluru Central Railway Station on Sunday.
The shramadaan was flagged off by Dr Shivashankar Murthy, senior railway health officer, and Dr Ananth Prabhu, advisor to Vikas PU College.
Public mind
Dr Prabhu, who spoke on the occasion, said, “Unless the public mind is cleaned, this nation cannot be cleaned. This Abhiyaan will be meaningful only if the citizens act responsibly.”
Dr Murthy said, “If cleanliness is considered as a virtue, only then can the dream of a Swacch Bharat be realised. Cleanliness and good health are inter-related. If we are to be healthy, we have to keep our surroundings clean.”
About 300 volunteers were divided into six teams and the shramadaan was carried out on the outer precincts of the railway station and the adjoining roads. The volunteers cleaned both sides of the roads leading from the railway station towards the Town Hall and till Attavar in addition to the area leading towards Milagres Circle and the parking area of the railway station. They removed heaps of sand and garbage from the footpaths.
The volunteers also removed weeds and grass from beside the roads.
Dumpyard
A spot beside the road from the railway station till Attavara had been converted into a dumpyard. The passersby had always been found to cover their noses while passing by the stretch. The volunteers cleaned the area and also sprinkled disinfectant powder on the spot.
A similar spot on the road from the railway station till Town Hall was also cleaned. The shop owners were urged to keep the area clean.
NSS students of KPT who were under the guidance of Ramakrishna Mission carried out the shramadaan on the Airport Road. The KPT Circle area, the bus shelter, the road and the footpaths leading to the airport were cleaned by the volunteers.
Ramakrishna Mission carried out the cleanliness drive in Balila, Hebri, Shirva, Amasebail, Jokatte, Padumurnadu, Kutrappady, Madamakki, Barkur, and Padupanambur, in association with the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Zilla Panchayats.