The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), with a view to reaching out to more number of people, has decided to make use of traditional media - Burra Katha. The Corporation has roped in Burra Katha artistes as part of its special sanitation drive.
Vijayawada (Central) MLA Malladi Vishnu launched the ‘Kala jathas’ here at the Vambay Colony on Wednesday. The Gangadhar Kala jatha gave a performance on the sanitation and safe drinking water.
The response from the public was encouraging and elders and children began pouring in at the venue soon after the artistes narrating story on the issue.
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The team gave another performance at Anjaneya Vaagu, which is one of the most vulnerable areas for vector-borne diseases.
The Corporation will conduct similar programmes up to August 14. However, the schedule is not confirmed. The VMC plans to conduct two programmes daily at two locations, mostly slums and areas vulnerable to vector-borne and water-borne diseases.
The Corporation conducted similar programmes when the city was agog with malaria and dengue fevers some time ago.
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Municipal Commissioner Md. Abdul Azeem has directed the officials to organise the special sanitation drive with a festive mood by involving residential welfare associations (RWAs) and sanitation committees. The AMOHs and sanitary inspectors were asked to mobilise all the RWAs, sanitation committees, Self-Help Groups, Mahila Mandali members, Rotary and Lions Clubs members at the drive.
The awareness programmes would be conducted in each Circle in the city. The Corporation has set an ambitious plan of declaring the city as a ‘litter free city’ by August 15, Independence Day.
The Municipal Commissioner has asked the sanitation staff to ensure that garbage/litter/left over packages were lifted between 5.30 a.m. and 6.30 a.m.
With subsequent sweeping to be completed around 7.30 a.m., the streets would be litter free before office hours.