Ramakrishna Mission’s Swacch Mangaluru Abhiyan Continues Momentum with December Shramadan
Mangaluru: The December month’s Shramadan under the Ramakrishna Mission Swacch Mangaluru Abhiyan was flagged off at the Mini Vidhana Soudha premises, Hampankatta, Mangaluru. Swami Jitakamanandaji, Adhyaksha of Ramakrishna Math, Mangaluru, and Prof. Dr M. S. Moodithaya, Vice Chancellor of Nitte (Deemed-to-be University), jointly initiated the drive. Capt. Ganesh Karnik, Dr Dhanesh Kumar – Principal, Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy, Bellala Gopinath Rao, and several senior volunteers were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr M. S. Moodithaya said, “When tourists and visitors come to Mangaluru, they appreciate the cleanliness of our city. This clean image is the result of the collective efforts of the Ramakrishna Mission’s Swacch Mangaluru Abhiyan and other government institutions. Creating competitive advantage and sustaining competitive advantage are both essential for the development of our city, and the Mission is doing remarkable work in this regard.”
Under the leadership of Prof. Purushothaman Chippala and other faculty members of the Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy – Dr Rakesh, Dr Jayesh, Dr Nityal, and Dr Ruchitha – along with the dedicated batch of student volunteers actively participated in clearing garden waste and non-recyclable plastic waste within the Mini Vidhana Soudha campus.
Senior volunteers Uday K. P., Shivaram, Sunanda, Vasanthi Nayak, Avinash, Pundaleeka Shenoy, Vittal Prabhu, Rajeevi, Prakash, and Adv. Gangadhara Shastri, along with another group of student volunteers, successfully cleared six identified black spots inside the campus. All mixed waste accumulated in these spots was thoroughly removed, significantly improving the cleanliness of the surroundings.
Another dedicated team, comprising Dilraj Alva, Balakrishna Bhat, Prakash Garodi, Sachin Shetty, Raghavendra Kallu, Bhavith Salian, and Varun, focused on clearing unwanted plants, creepers, bushes, plastic waste, glass bottles, and unused stones from the entrance area of the Mini Vidhana Soudha. They also trimmed tree branches that were obstructing visitor movement and parking spaces, enhancing overall accessibility and aesthetics.
The Abhiyan team invites citizens of Mangaluru to join these monthly cleanliness drives as volunteers and contribute towards building a cleaner and more responsible city. The initiative is organised in association with Swacch Mangaluru Prathishtana.
Inspiring Mother & Son – Proud Volunteers
Among the many volunteers, a special mention goes to Mrs Babitha Shetty, Assistant Professor at Canara College, who participated in the Shramadan along with her young school-going son, Naithik. Their involvement serves as an inspiring example for many parents across the city, showcasing how values, civic sense, and social responsibility can be cultivated in children through hands-on experiences and active volunteerism.