Volunteers find garbage around Govt buildings, along VIP road
Contrary to the picture presented by the authorities of work being undertaken as part of the Swachchh Bharat mission, young volunteers of a local group found areas around Government buildings and roads frequented by top political executives littered with garbage.
To mark Gandhi Jayanti, Doon-based youth activist group Making a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD) set out on a clean-up and awareness drive to express their solidarity with the mission and the larger vision of Gandhi for a clean India. Some 60 began clean up in various areas and were surprised to see heaps of waste lining the spaces around important Government buildings in the city, particularly the Fire Station close to the Collectorate, New Cantt Road near Bijapur Guest house and Tapkeshwar temple.
Close to a 100 sacks of waste was segregated and collected by volunteers during the drive at various places.
The members said that this is reflective of the gross apathy of the government officials themselves regarding proper implementation of this much publicised mission, right under their nose.
During the cleanliness drive, volunteers said that they were shocked to see that even on a ‘VIP’ route used daily by the Chief Minister, piles of garbage presented an unpleasant sight by the roadside. A Government campaign that began with much vigour seems to have slowed down, evidently owing much to the passivity of officials.
There is a need for sensitisation that the mission is not to be restricted to mere achievement of targets on paper, the group said.
MAD members also urged the citizens to give up a sense of separation towards public property. A general lack of civic sense needs to be addressed with greater awareness of the hazards, community efforts and behavioural changes, they opined.
The group’s founding president Abhijay Negi, volunteers Satvik Nijhon, Saurav Joshi, Kris, Gayatri and Utsavi among others were present on the occasion.