Sawachta Abhiayan-an experience Dr. S. S. VERMA; Department of Physics, S.L.I.E.T., Longowal; Distt.-Sangrur (Punjab)-148 106
On the guidelines/instructions of central government followed by state governments also 2 nd October, the 150th Birth anniversary of Father of nation Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi was celebrated as SWACHTA DIWAS not only in India but all over the world where people are inclined towards Gandhian philosophy of life. Most of the enthusiastic places were the educational institutes (schools, colleges & universities) and government run organizations/offices. It is well know that living with cleanliness is upper most for most of the Indians as we spent enough time and resources in maintaining cleanliness of our bodies and places where we live but are least concerned/bothered about our surroundings. We generally throw the liter of our homes in our surroundings and always blame for it to others. This is the reason that India stands at top as most polluted country. When we go out of our houses we always complain about the liter all around us as this has come from heaven or hell. Liter is being generated by us only and it makes our surroundings unhygienic. On the direction of authorities, our institute also celebrated this occasion with great enthusiasm. About fifteen teams comprising faculty and staff of all level were formed to carry out the Swachta Abhiyan in the institute at all sections of the institute like: residential area, hostels, academic and administration area with a motive to encourage the inhabitants of the institute towards this noble cause. Morning time 8.00-9.30 was fixed for cleaning exercise by the teams headed by coordinators and provided with sanitation equipments like buckets, broom and mop etc. Each team was accompanied by 3-4 safai karmcharis who already work in the institute as a big team to keep the institute clean. Due to their (Safai Karamcharis) presence our institute is much cleaner in comparison to others. Though, being a national holiday, many people put in teams arrived for the show whether reluctantly or willingly cannot be known. In my team also, we were about 15 people of different level (faculty, staff and safai karamchari) head by a senior faculty member as a coordinator. I reached the place of assignment exactly at 8.00am and other started to arrive one by one. When we were about 4-5 people, I asked them to start but safai karmchari said that one of them has not yet come so we have to wait because he will broom the road and also pick up one of the bucket for collection of liter. Just like political leaders and government officers doing Swachta Abhiyan which we generally seen on TVs, members of our team were also more enthusiastic to take pictures having broom in their hands which later on they posted on their facebook accounts. Few members never touched the ground to pick up a piece of liter but were always praising the institute authorities as well as central government in general and PM in particular for this nice and meaningful initiative. While cleaning exercise we could dare to speak to 1-2 house occupants with humility that please advise your maids not to throw the liter of your houses to the surroundings but in response we hear that it is not our liter and said to us that better you ask your maids not to do this. Students were moving out of their hostels to roam here and there but even looking their teachers involved in cleaning on the roads, could not think to join them for even a second. In the last, team members assembled back after having a round of the residential area and took pictures and left to meet the authorities of the institute to take a pledge to be a part of “Swachta Abhiyan� in making our country neat and clean for generations to come. We all are leaving in a world lead by qualities like selfishness, show business and hypocrisy and can come together on the directions of authorities for a cause but doubt whether we will follow it thorough our heart. Gandhi lived his life with principles from the core or inner of his heart and we can only mimic Gandhi but cannot be Gandhi.