Swachh Mangaluru: Attavar area gets a new look after cleanliness drive

Mangaluru, Mar 31: The 17th shramadan of 5th phase of Ramakrishna Mission’s Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan was carried out in Attavara area of the city today. The event was jointly flagged off at 7.30 am by Yogacharya Dr Jagadish Shetty and Prof Ramya Shetty of SDM Management College, Mangaluru in front of Big Bazar at Attavara.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jagadish Shetty said, “This nature is supporting the whole human race. But due to selfish greed of human beings, man is ruining this very nature. This Abhiyan is awakening men to the importance of nature and its preservation is a positive development. I urge all to inculcate cleanliness, both internal & external, in their life”

Prof. Ramya Shetty said, “‘Arise! Awake! Stop not till the goal is reached’’, said Swami Vivekananda. Hence we should not stop this till we achieve the target of clean Mangaluru. We are glad to see more & more youths getting associated with such Abhiyans. Mangalore is becoming cleaner day after day thanks to the effort of volunteers of Ramakrishna Mission” Umanath Kotelkar, Pramila Shetty, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Narendra Kumar, Aniruddha Nayak, Taranath Alva, Subraya Nayak, Masa Hiro, Sandip Kodikal and others were present on the occasion.

Shramadan: Volunteers formed different groups after flagging off. The road leading towards S Madhusudan Kushe School was cleaned. Heaps of mud lying by the side of the road for years together was removed using JCB. Dirt & garbage lying was also removed. Old and unused motor vehicles were removed and the over grown weeds & grass was removed. Umakanth Suvarna guided the volunteers in this initiative. Students of SDM College of Management took up cleanliness work in Ananda Shetty Circle. A park used by senior citizens was in dilapidated condition due to poor management & negligence.

Kamalaksha Pai and team of volunteers have cleaned the park and removed the filth & weeds in the park. Fourth team of volunteers cleaned the road by the side of Chakrapani Temple and cleaned a blackspot in the area, have placed pots with flowering plants thus beautifying it. Subhadra Bhat, Krithika Shetty, Mohan Kottari & others joined their hands. Another team of volunteers under Suresh Shetty visited hundreds of houses in Attavara area and distributed awareness handbills. Dilraj Alva, Souraj Mangalore, Kodange Balakishna Naik also participated in Shramadan.

50th Swacch Soch Seminar & Concluding Programme: Concluding Programme of Swacch Soch Seminars initiated 3 months before as an offshoot of Swacch Bharath Abhiyan was held in Sahyadri Engineering & Management College on 27th March at 3.30 pm. Swami Jitakamanandaji, Adhyaksha of Ramakrishna Math presided over the programme and Dr Manjunath Bhandary, Chairman of Sahyadri College was the chief Guest. Prof. S S Balakrishna was special invitee.

Speaking on the occasion, Swami Jitakamanandaji said, “Awakening young minds to the importance of cleanliness is the need of the hour and hence Mission planned to organise 50 seminars addressing the youngsters about the importance of waste segregation and managing household waste etc.”

Dr Manjunath Bhandary said, “Swacchta Abhiyan has played an important role in instilling a sense of patriotism & social concern in the youngsters.” On this occasion all the resource persons of 50 Swacch Soch Seminars were honoured and given certificates.

Prof. Rajamohan Rao, Rajamani Ramakunja, Suresh Shetty, Gopinath Rao, Subhadra Bhat, Satish Sadananda, Rahul T G, Vishal, Nivedita Kamath, Saritha Shetty and others were present. Ranjan Bellarpady gave a report of the Swacch Soch programme. Sreelatha U anchored the programme.