Heeding to the clarion call – “Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath”- given by Honourable Prime Minister during his Mann Ki Baat, second phase of Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan was flagged off on Sunday, October 01, 2023 at Ramakrishna Mission, Mangaluru at 7:30a.m. in a special programme, “’Swachhanjali’ – Swachhata Hi Seva”. The NSS Units of Canara College, Mangaluru collaborated with Ramakrishna Mission in this Campaign. The Abhiyan was inaugurated by Sri. N. Vinay Hegde, Chancellor of Nitte(Deemed to be University) in the presence of Swami Jitakamanandaji, Adhyaksha of Ramakrishna Math, Mangaluru. Sri. Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP of Dakshina Kannada was the Chief Guest. Sri. Sudheer Shetty Kannur, Mayor of MCC, Sri. D. Vedavyas Kamath, MLA of Mangaluru South, and Dr. Manjunath Bhandary, MLC were the Guests of Honour. Sri. Praveen Chandra Alva, Leader of Opposition of MCC; Sri. Premanand Shetty, Ex-Mayor of MCC; and Sri. Sudhakar Kottary, GM of Canara Bank, Circle Office, Mangaluru were the special invitees. Sri. Captain Ganesh Karnik, Former Veteran Indian Army Officer welcomed the dignitaries.
The inaugural programme was followed by Massive Plogging (combination of Jogging and Picking up litter) Drive at 8:30am. This was launched by Sri. Krishna Hegde, GGM-HR, MRPL ONGC, Mangaluru. This Drive was held as a part of the Swachhata Pakhwada- Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) Campaign, a Mega Cleanliness Drive, as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on the eve of his 154th birth anniversary. Swachhanjali involves occasional Cleanliness Drives, Swachh Manas- awareness programmes in schools and colleges, door-to-door awareness drives on segregation of waste, and city beautification drives.
About 800 youths from different educational institutions, and all like-minded and responsible citizens of Mangalore joined the Abhiyan and contributed their mite in this noble task. After the inaugural programme, the participants went plogging in different areas around Mangala Devi Temple in groups. 25 NSS volunteers of Canara College, under the guidance of their NSS Programme Officers Mrs. Seema Prabhu S.and Mrs. M. Keerthana Bhat did plogging in Route No. 30. All the volunteers were given certificates and served breakfast in the Ashrama.
Report by,
Mrs. Seema Prabhu S.
Mrs. M. Keerthana Bhat
