Bhatkal: The birth anniversary of the ‘father of our nation’ Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was observed in Bhatkal and other coastal regions with the implementation of the ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign on 2nd October, Monday.
The citizens of Bhatkal including all the government employees, social workers, medical practitioners, NCC cadets, student organizations, Media persons took to the streets in right earnestness to clean their target area and ensure that the area wore a squeaky clean look post the drive.
If this presented a lighter side of cleanliness drive in the city, it was more serious stuff of literally delivering the city from the muck elsewhere. Many citizens of Bhatkal received tips from a pourakarmika (civic worker) in how to effectively use the ubiquitous broom.
Earlier, floral tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries at the Government hospital Bhatkal. The campaign was flagged off by Assistant Commissioner M N Manjunath.
Addressing the media, he said, “Gandhi led India’s struggle for independence and also influenced movements for civil rights in other parts of the world. Hence, remembering his sacrifices, the Swachh Bharat campaign was officially launched by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on 145th birth anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi on 2nd of October in 2014 at Rajghat, New Delhi.”
He also extolled the citizens to play a pro-active role in ensuring that the city surroundings are kept clean and not to leave everything to the Town Corporation in handling garbage.
Incharge Tahsildar G S Gulgar, TMC president Sadique Matta, Jali Pattana Panchayat President Abdur Raheem Shaikh, chief officer Venkatesh, BEO Venkatesh Pathgar, Vice president TMC Mohammed Ashfaque KM, Tanzeem executive member Muhammed Meera Siddique, Namdhari Committee President Mr Naik, TMC standing committee chairman Abdur Raheem, Cpi Suresh Nayak, KEB Engineer Manjunath, Taluka Panchayat CEO CT Naik, Social worker Nisar Ahmed, Councillor Abdullah Khateeb and many others were present.