650 Join Bilaspur Cleanliness Drive Ahead Of Gandhi Jayanti

Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti, a one-day special cleanliness and awareness campaign was organised in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, with the aim of turning cleanliness into a people’s campaign through public participation.

The campaign was held under the aegis of the district administration and the Red Cross Society. It covered 15 major locations in the city and nearby gram panchayats, and carried the message of cleanliness, environmental protection and civic responsibility.

Around 650 volunteers, social workers and local residents took part in the campaign with enthusiasm and contributed through shramdaan. The initiative was planned as a public awareness effort before the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

Under the campaign, extensive cleanliness work was carried out at identified locations across all 11 wards of the Bilaspur Municipal Council. In addition, nearby gram panchayats Oyal, Nauni, Raghunathpura and Bamta were also included in the drive.

The cleanliness work covered parks, areas around educational institutions, the sides of the national highway and other public places. Plastic and other waste material was collected from these locations and disposed of in a proper manner.

Through the campaign, people were given the message that cleanliness should not remain limited to a single drive or event. They were encouraged to make it a part of their daily lives.

Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar said that the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, considered cleanliness to be the foundation of a healthy and strong society. He said cleanliness should not be limited to one day or one campaign, and that every citizen must make it a part of daily life.

Rahul Kumar said keeping public places clean, proper disposal of waste, giving up single-use plastic and taking responsibility towards environmental protection are collective responsibilities. He also appealed to common citizens to take an active part in cleanliness campaigns.

During the campaign, people were made aware of cleanliness at different locations. They were motivated not to throw garbage in public places and to ensure proper disposal of dry and wet waste.

Several social and educational organisations participated actively in the campaign. These included Rotary Club Bilaspur, Gyan-Vigyan Samiti Bilaspur, National Service Scheme (NSS), Youth Red Cross and NCC.

Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar appreciated all supervisory officers, ward councillors/commanders, volunteers, social workers and various institutions who contributed to making the campaign successful. He said that broad public participation will provide important support in achieving the goal of a clean, beautiful and healthy Bilaspur.

He also said there is a need to continuously take forward awareness about cleanliness and collective responsibility.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Rupinder Kaur thanked all officers, employees, volunteers, social organisations and common citizens who extended cooperation in the campaign. She said campaigns run with public participation play an important role in linking cleanliness with behaviour and values.

Rupinder Kaur said collective efforts must continue in order to take the message of cleanliness to every home and every citizen. The campaign, organised before Gandhi Jayanti, sought to underline that cleanliness is not only an administrative programme but also a responsibility shared by the people, local institutions and the wider community.