Come, official messages regarding cleaning sweep through all mediums. On this day, marking the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, many functions are organized.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is set to administer a “Swachhta Pledge” to all Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and senior officers in J&K through video conferencing on Saturday.
As per the test of pledge to be taken, the employees would undertake to remain committed towards cleanliness and devote time for this. In fact, they are supposed to pledge to devote 100 hours per year, that is two hours per week, to voluntarily work for cleanliness. Also they will pledge neither litter nor let others litter as also for initiating the quest for cleanliness with self, family, locality, village and work place.
If Jammu and Kashmir’s villages and towns are to be clean, involvement of each and every citizen in important, rather it is imperative. Without the cooperation of people, it would be impossible for any government or civic body to ensure clean streets and public places. While efforts should be made to de-stigmatise the act of cleaning, and the participation of citizens in large numbers in a mass cleaning exercise, it should not be a one-off or annual event. The government and people must be devoted to cleanness endeavors every day. The government should also involve large scale participation of religious leaders to meet the endeavor. While voluntarism is very good, same cannot be a substitute for strengthening civic infrastructure. The civic bodies need to be at the centre of the clean process for ensuring cleanliness and hygiene as well as improving solid waste management. A lot more is needed for the purpose of all round cleanliness. While people will do well by not littering on roads, there is also a need to keep water bodies clean also. The government and people need to wake up and stop pollution of the water bodies. Plight of Dal Lake, Jhelum and water bodies is before us. Leave aside drinking the water of these water bodies, which was the story in the past not distant in history, it will be much admired if water is made clean, at least to eyes. The government is also required to ensure that at least no drain or effluent finds its way into the water bodies without treatment. Also measures should be made to stop dumping of the garbage on the banks or into the water.
