A fortnight long cleanliness drive was launched on Indian Railways to observe ‘Swachhata Pakhawada-2021’ between September 16, 2021 to September 30, 2021 with a view to ensure visible improvement in cleanliness at all places viz. railway stations, trains, offices, colonies, workshops, hospitals, food stalls etc. and to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, 2021.
Anil Kumar Lahoti, General Manager Central Railway started the ‘Swachhata Pakhawada-2021’ with administering the ‘Swachhata pledge’ to officers and staff on September 16, 2021. The pledge was also administered to all staff including safai karmacharis at their respective places of work to bring cleanliness awareness at Headquarters and on all Divisions.
Central Railway has undertaken various activities during this fortnight long drive. Each day was observed with a theme such as Swachha Samwad (Cleanliness Dialogue), Swachh Stations (Clean Stations), Swachh Rail Gaadi (Clean Trains), Swachh Parisar (Clean Premises), Swachh Ahar (Clean Food Items), Swachh Neer (Clean Drinking Water), Swachh Prasadhan (Clean Toilets) and Swachh Pratiyogita (Cleanliness Competitions) etc. Railway Officials along with NGO’s, Social Organizations, Social workers participated in these activities.
Anil Kumar Lahoti, General Manager Central Railway said “Cleanliness is more important for physical wellbeing and a healthy environment. During the fortnight long cleanliness drive, Central Railway team has put in their best efforts to keep the premises clean. Cleanliness is a continuous process and I appeal to everyone to keep the momentum of various cleanliness activities undertaken during the last 15 days.”
‘Swachhata Pakhawada-2021’ culminated with various activities organized at CSMT on October 2, 2021 on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti. Coaches of Rajdhani Special, Koyna Special, Diesel locos and EMU rakes were painted with the Mahatma’s picture, Swachhata message and Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav theme by railway staff. Various cleanliness activities were also carried out in Pune, Solapur, Bhusaval and Nagpur divisions of Central Railway.
In addition, Central Railway observed Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti with various activities to spread the Mahatma’s message of cleanliness on October 2, 2021. A Swachhata rally and a skit on cleanliness and the Mahatma’s message was staged at CSMT on the occasion. The day marked the culmination of the fortnight long cleanliness drive under “Swachhata Pakhawada-2021”.
B.K. Dadabhoy, Additional General Manager, Central Railway inspected the Diesel shunting loco and EMU rake hand painted with the Mahatma’s picture, Swachhata message and Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav theme. He also flagged off a Swachhata Doot rally from CSMT suburban platform to Heritage Gully.
“Swachhata ki Jyot Jagayenge” – a skit on cleanliness and the Mahatma’s message was staged by the artists of the Divisional Cultural Academy, Mumbai Division.
To commemorate this occasion, a number of Locos were painted with the Mahatma’s picture, Swachhata message and Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav theme by staff of Kalyan Diesel and Electric Loco Sheds and Kurla Loco Sheds. The entire rake of Rajdhani Special and Koyna Special were also painted with these themes for the first time by staff of Pune and Mumbai Coaching depots. LTT-Lucknow Express and Mumbai-Nagpur Sewagram Express were also painted with similar themes by staff of LTT coaching Depot. One EMU rake and one MEMU rake were also painted with these themes by staff of Matunga Workshop.
Mumbai Division organised a display of the utility of plastic waste by making a portrait of the Mahatma with plastic water bottles, sculptures of the Mahatma, Charkha etc. Cloth bags, masks and sanitizers were distributed to the station house keeping staff at CSMT. A rangoli on the theme-Swachhata, Gandhi Jayanti and Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav was also displayed at the CSMT concourse.
The Environment and Housekeeping Management Wing of Central Railway played an important role in organizing the various activities to create awareness about environment and cleanliness during the ‘Swachhata Pakhwada-2021”. Deserving Railway officials and Concerned departments were suitably rewarded for their contribution in making the event a grand success.
Similar activities were also carried out at Pune, Solapur, Bhusaval and Nagpur divisions of Central Railway on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti.
A K Gupta, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer, Shri S K Pankaj. Senior Deputy General Manager and other Senior Officers of Headquarters and Mumbai Division were also present during the occasion. All COVID-19 protocols were followed during the event.
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