Swachh Bharat: Holiday spent at Dadar beach, with brooms and gloves

Around 5,000 students of Mumbai university, along with their teachers, gathered at the Gateway of India on Thursday, singing bhajanas, to mark Gandhi Jayanti , celebrated as the International day of Non Violence, and now, also the day the Central government has kicked-off its Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan.

“The idea was to bring students of the city together to spread the causes of non violence and cleanliness,” said Mrudul Nile, director, Students’ welfare department, MU.

Naresh Chandra, pro-vice chancellor, said: “Taking the cleanliness pledge will encourage students to carry out the social responsibility of keeping their surroundings clean.”

Around 50 students of Veer Jijamata Technical Institute (VJTI), Matunga, went one step ahead, by participating in Get Set Clean, a cleanliness campaign organised at Dadar Chowpatty.

Students, wielding brooms in their hands, started the clean-up at 8am and accumulated around 40 bags of waste from the beach.

Sharad Ughade, assistant commissioner, G North ward, BMC, took part in the drive along with the civic Clean-up Mumbai team. “Students’ involvements in such campaigns can create awareness to keep the city clean.”

Swadhin Thakkar, member of VJTI alumni association, said: “It is not a one-day initiative, we are determined to come over for many such drives.”