Responding to the Swachh Bharat call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2014, Noone Ganesh, an assistant manager at Oriental Bank of Commerce plunged into action and volunteered to remove garbage in public places, parks, Mee Seva centres and the roads, planted saplings and watered them.
Although he began as a lone campaigner of the mission on the Government Polytechnic College for Boys ground, he was subsequently joined by many.
He cleaned up the sprawling college premises by removing bushes, cutting unwanted grass and litter. Since the ground witnesses over 2,000 walkers every day, his job immediately attracted them.
Ganesh painted the walls of parks, district court, Collectorate and several other places which were laden with graffiti. He used to be present with gunny bags wherever garbage was seen. However, his voluntary work was cut short when he was transferred to Jagtial recently.
However, his lieutenants Vanneldas Limbadri and Ashok have kept the mission alive.
Thanks to their efforts the polytechnic college ground has turned lush green and beautiful.
They also involved students in watering the saplings planted during the Haritha Haram programme. They painted the benches and the seven feet high compound wall for 50 days. They campaigned for cleanliness around Vinayakula bavi (well) where Ganesh idols are immersed, and spruced it up.
“Ganesh has brought a change with his direct action and campaign. He nurtured patriotic values and voluntary selfless service right from his childhood.
He served in the Indian Air Force for 17 years and after retirement joined the OBC under ex-serviceman quota,” said Dr. N. Ramchander, district chairman, Indian Red Cross Society, commending his work.
Recognising the team work in promoting Swachh Bharat and developing greenery on the college ground, the Government of Telangana awarded ₹2 lakh to the polytechnic college management under the Haritha Mitra Award. Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy handed over the cheque and the award to the college on Independence Day last year.
“I swung into action looking at the garbage piled up everywhere and the public apathy towards it. I volunteered to remove it to help bring a change in the mindset.
There is probably something wrong with our education system. We visit several foreign countries but fail to follow their discipline,” Ganesh lamented.
