Kolkata: President Pranab Mukherjee Thursday flagged-off the Swacch Bharat mission in West Bengal by administering the pledge to students and others while a citizens' movement ensured cleanliness at various Durga Puja committess in Kolkata during the ongoing festive season.
Mukherjee launched the mission at Kirnahar Shib Chandra High School in Birbhum district and participated with the students in a cleanliness drive.
Citing instances of Vietnam and Cuba where people's involvement greatly contributed to attaining social objectives like removal of illiteracy and bringing cleanliness, he called upon citizens to pitch in.
"If the non-governmental efforts are not combined with the government's endeavour, we will not be able to make much progress.
"By involving ourselves in the Mission, we would repay the dividend for the social investment that has been made on us and thus would be able to attain a life which would be desirable and aspired for," Mukherjee said.
In Kolkata, members of Garbage Free India (GFI), a citizens collective with a target to do away with the habit of dumping waste on streets and civic areas, tied-up with as many as 16 puja committees to place waste bins in these pandals (marquees).
"Dumping litter is a menace, especially during the festive season. Nobody bothers to look for waste bins. We have placed two waste bins from our side, in each of these marquees.
"While providing bins may be part of the solution, but we all need to exercise our duties as responsible citizens and be the change we want to see," Shruti Ghose, of GFI, told IANS.
She said their movement will receive a 'huge boost" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative, launched by the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, that aims to clean up India in five years.
Kolkata civic bodies stepped-up by installing waste bins and routine sweeping drives during the Durga Puja revelry.
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