BHOPAL: Bhopal’s sterling performance in the Swachhta Sarvekshan was not only due to the BMC’s efforts. Many NGOs and individuals had also partnered with it. Free Press spoke to some of them, to know their reaction to the achievement and about their contribution to the campaign.
Sanidhya Samiti is a professionally handled and managed ISO 9001 certified organisation working for past 14 years in Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh. Our Samiti joined hands with BMC in March 2016 and from then onwards a persistent trail of activities were planned and executed for Nagar Nigam Bhopal. Starting from identifying basic challenges through behavioral analysis survey, door to door survey and eliciting views of people. Post this a major activity Doctor Aapke dwar was launched to fight against the problem of open defecation. Then came yet another innovative intervention of “My City My Wall”, a series of wall painting was done in three phases. Thus beautifying entire Bhopal, simultaneously Shiksha Chaupal, Gandhigiri , Vaanar Sena Activation, Rallies, Nukkad Natak, Geet Sangeet Mandli etc.Various IES and BCC activities were carried throughout.
Ritu Sharma, secretary of Sanidhya Samiti NGO
For the past eight, I am associated in cleanliness programme with the association of BMC’s officials. Apart from plantation at different places across the state , I tried to persuade the people for not using polythene by organising various awareness programme. Even I distributed bags, made of clothes among people on personal level. I also tried to stop using plastic cups and plates at railway stations and hotels rather preferred to use paper made cup. We are glad to hear the news but still there is need to more efforts for making city no. 1 in cleanliness.
Sunil Dubey ‘Virkshamitra’, environmentalist
Yes, I was part of “My City My Wall” drive and am happy to hear that Bhopal got second position in the Swachchhta Sarvekshan. But our effort was to make its number 1. I think, it happened due to some communication gap between BMC official and artists. See, it is team effort, without it can’t possible. So, lets hope for best.
Raj Saini, noted artist
We use to organise awareness programme time to time for our area regarding cleanliness. In our programme, we advised many things which keep our environment healthy like use clothe bag in the place of polythene, don’t use disposal, use dustbin for dumping garbage and avoid spitting here and there. Recently, we also organise summer camp for children under Swachchhta drive and told them about importance of cleanliness.
Pragati Shrivastava, member of Sukriti NGO, Saket Nagar
It is really great news but we could be number one . I think for this, citizen of our country is need to be more aware regarding . They should know where should be dump garbage and spit. Government can’t do alone. We also organise awareness programme to keep our area clean. And River Town is one of the clean town in the city. We have been associated with plantation work in our campus for the past many years. And now we are planning collect green garbage separately and then convert for compost.
Nidhi Parmar, secretary of Rivera Ladies Club, Bhopal
I started the group with six members in January 2014 before PM Modi launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and today the group has cleaned more than 160 spots in city. The success of Bhopal cannot be given to any individual group or BMC, it is the effort of the citizens that has brought this result. The group collects Rs 50 each from its members, identifies a spot and every Sunday they clean the area and decorate it with wall paintings, so that people think twice before dumping garbage and spitting. We are very happy that Bhopal has ranked 2nd and we are very proud that we have been a part of this. It is not just us or BMC but the awareness among people which has got Bhopal this award.
Kalpana Kekre, founder of I-Clean
I inspired with PM’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan that she herself took the responsibility of cleaning her colony. I was joined by other residents of colony and today the campaign started by me and has spread over three areas near Sonagiri and women have joined hands to clean their own areas themselves. Not just cleaning the society, they also make sure that the future generation is well informed about the environment, for which they conduct classes and workshops on Sundays. They also distribute cloth bags at temples, to vendors and to people whom they find using plastic bags.
Kiran Sharma, founder of Sakaratmak Soch
