Trying to emerge as a ward with a difference in cleanliness, a group of residents in batches went around Derebail South ward (no 24) on Sunday to convince people to maintain the cleanliness of public places as well.
They did not clean any roads or locality but rather it was an attempt to change the mindset of people towards public places.
The residents gave away handouts which requested people to produce less waste at homes and use cloth bags for shopping.
It said that waste management should first begin at houses.
People should reuse certain materials at homes to the maximum extent.
The handout requested people not to burn any waste in roads or at any places or throw waste at public places.
An initiative of Rajaneesh, councillor of the ward, the “clean and green ward 24” drive which started at about 9.30 a.m. ended at 11 a.m.
Mr. Rajaneesh said that the ward had been divided into three zones — Kottara, Aadarsh Nagar and Kapikkad — for reaching people in batches. “Though not cent per cent we are able to reach 80 per cent population,” he said.
The councillor said that in apartments, only office-bearers of associations were contacted. Of about 1,500 houses in his ward many houses were in apartments. The ward had a population of 6,000.
He said that residents were given away caps having “clean and green ward 24” slogan. It was because by looking at the caps and by wearing it each one should think about his role and responsibility in keeping the ward clean, Mr. Rajaneesh told media persons after the drive.
He said that the ward would be monitored for the next one month for dumping of debris and waste in public places. Residents of respective roads and localities themselves would identify such persons and convince them not to do so.
M. Rajneesh said that people kept their body, homes, vehicles clean. But why not public places?
He said that he has identified eight places were people publicly dumped waste. They would be beautified by raising gardens there to prevent people from dumping waste.
Derebail South ward councillor Rajaneesh has created a WhatsApp group with 60 members who are residents of the ward for keeping the initiative on hygiene of the ward alive.
He said that a majority of the members are those who raised problems as well as suggested solutions. The group “24{+t}{+h}Derebail ward” discussed the issues of the ward. It would also help to reach select people of the ward who have concern, he said.
