Udupi : K. Raghupati Bhat, MLA, said on Monday that more than rules, a change in the mindset was needed to promote cleanliness in the city.

He was speaking after inaugurating the ‘Civic Workers’ Day’ (Pourakarmikara Dina) organised by the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC), here.

He also flagged off five mini-trucks, with public announcement systems, which would move around the city urging the people to shun using plastic.

Mr. Bhat said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Swachh Bharat Mission in 2014 to promote cleanliness and to change the mindset of people.

“It is civic workers who keep towns and cities clean. To recognise their contribution the Civic Workers’ Day is being celebrated. But it is also the responsibility of every citizen to keep the city clean,” he said.

Udupi city had earlier got several awards for maintaining cleanliness and the entire credit went to the civic workers, he said.

Presently, as per the government rules, there should be a civic worker for every 700 persons. But this rule had a drawback when it came to cities such as Udupi, he said.

While the population of Udupi is about 1.5 lakh, it also had a floating population in form of pilgrims visiting temples, tourists visiting Malpe beach, and those visiting the educational hub of Manipal. Hence the number of civic workers provided to a municipality should also take the floating population into consideration, he said.

There are 180 civic workers in the city and a shortage of 60 . The Deputy Commissioner had promised to fill up the vacancies, he said.

He said he would urge the district administration to give an award to a best performing civic worker from the urban local bodies in the district during the Kannada Rajyotsava from this year.

Raghavendra, Environment Officer, said that that the five vehicles will create awareness till the month-end. Then the municipality will seize banned plastic items, if available, in the shops and this drive will go on for a week. After that, the municipality will start imposing fines, he said.

Anand Kallolikar, CMC Commissioner, was present.