Mangaluru: 1st Shramadan of the 40 weeks’ Swacchata Abhiyan was flagged off in front of Ramakrishna Math on 5th November at 7.30 am. Swami Muktidanandaji, Trustee of Ramakrishna Math & Mission, Belur Math flagged off the drive in the presence of Swami Jitakamanandaji, President of Mangalore Ramakrishna Math, and Sri B H V Prasad, General manager of MRPL. Swami Sarvasthanandaji, Designate Minister-in-Charge was Special invitee. This was followed by cleanliness work by guests and dignitaries who took the brooms to clean the surroundings.

250 volunteers assembled were classified into different groups. Sri Dilraj Alva, Convener of Swacchata Abhiyan led a group of senior volunteers and renovated the dilapidated and neglected public toilet behind the Managaladevi Bus Stand. They washed the toilets with acid and painted the walls and fixed instruction boards wherever necessary. They have also requested the concerned authorities to take proper care of the facility so that it will be beneficial to the public.

Students from Sahyadri Engineering College were divided into 4 teams and under the guidance of Dr Satish Rao, Prof. Sheshappa Amin and Sri Vittaldas Prabhu took up cleanliness work in front of Mangaladevi Temple and the road in front. Captain Ganesh Karnik led the team of volunteers from Srinivasa Institute of Technology in cleaning areas in Mangala Nagar. They cleaned the main roads and cleared the footpaths and drains of the plastic, garbage etc. Sri Sachin Shetty Nallur of Srinivasa College of Engineering led the volunteer group of 60 members from the college.

Members of Sharada Mahila Vrinda carried out cleanliness work from Mangaladevi road to monkey stand area. Smt. Sathyavathi & others cleaned the roads, adjoining footpaths etc. Members of Nivedita Balaga under the guidance of Smt. Rathna Alva & Smt. Vijayalakshmi took up the drive behind Mangaladevi Temple and road leading to Mulihithlu. About 50 members carried out the drive.

Cleanliness drive was carried out from 7.30 am to 10 am. All the volunteers were provided tiffin after the drive. Sri M R Vasudev, Former Director of Mangalore airport, Sri Umanath kotekar, Ankith Kumar & Naveen Pilar of Sahyadri Inst. Of Technology, Nisha, Prajwal and others actively participated in the drive.