Mangaluru's Major Cleanliness Drive Targets Plastic Waste Menace
In a significant environmental initiative, Mangaluru witnessed a comprehensive cleanliness drive organized by the Ramakrishna Mission under the Swacch Mangaluru Abhiyan banner. The event, formally flagged off at Kankanady Old Road on Sunday, brought together community leaders, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, and enthusiastic student volunteers in a united effort to tackle the city's waste management challenges.
Plastic Reduction: A Critical Yet Neglected Responsibility
Fr George Jeevan Sequera, the respected administrator of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, delivered a powerful message during the event, highlighting how plastic reduction remains rarely practised seriously in contemporary society. He emphasized that continuous awareness among all sections of society is absolutely essential for meaningful change.
"Even educated people often forget simple responsibilities like avoiding plastic," Fr Sequera observed, appreciating the Ramakrishna Mission for taking up this crucial initiative. His remarks underscored the gap between knowledge and practice in environmental conservation efforts.
Targeted Blackspot Cleanup Yields Substantial Results
The cleanup drive focused specifically on identified garbage blackspots, with three major problematic areas on Kankanady Old Road receiving special attention. Senior volunteers, led by Dilraj Alva, undertook dedicated efforts that resulted in the clearance of more than 1,500 kilograms of accumulated waste from these locations alone.
Simultaneously, another team of experienced volunteers conducted an intensive cleanliness operation on the lower road connecting Pumpwell. Their activities included:
- Removing large quantities of plastic waste
- Clearing fallen tree branches obstructing pathways
- Entering drainage lines to extract plastics that had accumulated over time
Philosophical Foundation and Community Participation
Anil Kumar Bhoomareddy, Additional Superintendent of Police for Dakshina Kannada, provided philosophical context to the initiative, describing 'Swacch Mangaluru' as a value-based concept rooted in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the ancient Indian principle of "one world, one family."
He drew a compelling parallel between domestic and civic cleanliness, stating: "Just as we do not litter our homes, we should not litter our city." Bhoomareddy specifically urged the youth to actively participate in such cleanup drives, recognizing their energy and idealism as vital resources for community betterment.
Multi-Institutional Collaboration and Student Engagement
The cleanup activities demonstrated remarkable institutional collaboration. As part of the shramadan (voluntary labor) efforts:
- Dr Dhanesh Kumar, Principal of Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy, along with other doctors and students, cleaned the upper road connecting Father Muller's Hospital
- Students from St Joseph Engineering College actively participated in the drive
- Large quantities of plastic waste were systematically removed
- Overgrown plants were trimmed back to improve visibility and accessibility
- Unauthorized banners were cleared from public spaces
Corporate Support and Environmental Responsibility
The initiative was organized in association with Swacch Mangaluru Prathishtana and received significant support from major corporations as part of their environmental social responsibility programs. MRPL (Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited) and ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) provided crucial backing for the community cleanup effort, demonstrating how public-private partnerships can effectively address environmental challenges.
This comprehensive approach—combining community mobilization, institutional participation, corporate support, and philosophical grounding—represents a model for urban cleanliness initiatives that other Indian cities might well emulate in their own environmental conservation efforts.
