Ramakrishna Mission Leads Ninth Swachh Mangaluru Cleanliness Drive on Railway Station Road
Mangaluru: As part of the ongoing Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan, the Ramakrishna Mission organised its ninth monthly cleanliness shramadan drive along Railway Station Road in Mangaluru, in collaboration with MRPL and the Swachh Mangaluru Foundation. The initiative once again reflected the city’s growing civic spirit and collective resolve to improve public spaces through community participation.
M.K. Rao, Senior Manager, MRPL, and Keshav Patali, CSR Manager, MRPL, jointly inaugurated the drive. The programme was also attended by Mandar Kale, General Manager, MRPL; Captain Ganesh Karnik; and Prof. Babita Shetty, who extended their support and encouraged the volunteers for their dedicated service.
A major focus of the cleanliness effort was a long-neglected black spot near the University College Library on the stretch connecting to the Mangaluru Railway Station. This area, frequently used by railway passengers, tourists, and members of the general public, had accumulated waste over time and had become an eyesore. Senior volunteers undertook the task of clearing unwanted banners, dry leaves, debris, and other waste, thereby transforming the locality into a cleaner and more welcoming public space.
The drive saw enthusiastic participation from senior volunteers including Vittaldas Prabhu, Satyanarayana K.V., Aniruddha Nayak, Kamalaksha Pai, R.K. Bhat, Prakash, Ashok, Uday K.P., Taranath Alva, Mehaboob, Gangadhara Shastri, and Nagesh, who worked earnestly to restore the cleanliness of the area.
In a parallel effort, a separate team of students from Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy, led by faculty members Ruchita Narsia and Arun Varghese, and supported by student coordinators Ashwini and Edwin Vijay, cleaned the pedestrian pathway along Railway Station Road. The students removed posters and unwanted stickers from roadside walls, scrubbed away dirt and adhesive marks using brushes, and washed the surfaces with water, resulting in a visibly cleaner environment.
The active participation of Gen Z students emerged as one of the most notable features of the campaign. Young volunteers from Canara College and Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy joined hands in the drive, demonstrating a strong sense of civic responsibility and environmental awareness. Their involvement underscored the growing role of youth in public cleanliness initiatives and community service.
According to the organisers, the present effort is only one phase in a larger vision for the area. Plans are underway to paint the cleaned walls and enhance the visual appeal of the stretch with Warli art. In addition, a proposal to plant greenery along the roadside is being considered to further transform the black spot into a greener and aesthetically pleasing public space.
The Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan has evolved beyond a routine cleanliness campaign into a sustained public movement that promotes cleanliness, beautification, and civic engagement. Through such initiatives, the organisers aim to ensure that those arriving in Mangaluru by train are welcomed by a clean, attractive, and artistically presented environment.
The latest shramadan drive marks yet another significant step in the city’s continuing efforts to build a cleaner, more beautiful, and more responsible Mangaluru through active citizen participation.