Malad residents make a clean sweep on Dussehra……Sandeep Ashar
Mumbai: While most Mumbaikars celebrated Dussehra with family and friends,over 100 citizens from Malad found a unique way to mark the triumph of all that is good in mankind.Just as Lord Rams army had wiped out evil from his world,these soldiers of cleanliness declared a war against every single speck of dirt in their neighbourhood.
Organized by the Lourdes Colony residents advanced locality management (ALM),the cleanliness drive saw volunteers pick up brooms and sweep the streets clean.
The residents also dissuaded citizens from spitting and littering.As part of the drive,special banners,which spread the word on cleanliness and its importance,have been put up all across the colony.We do not want it to be a one-day drive, said Cerita Mendonca,the ALMs secretary.
The ALM had earlier sought the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) help to discipline pet owners in the area,who often fail to clean up their pets poop.It had also asked the civic body to help it improve cleanliness.But,with the BMC seeking citizens help to spread the word,the ALM decided to do its bit.The banners put up by volunteers on Sunday include one asking people to clean up the mess left behind by their pets.
Sandra Dsouza,the ALMs treasurer,said that the volunteers will take to the streets every day in the coming week to sensitize people about the campaign.Mendonca added that the idea is to give something back to the community.Waste accumulated from all the lanes in and around the colony is being collected at one place.Civic officials will dispose this off on Monday.Joy Furtado,a participant,said that the colony looked much prettier with cleaner streets.
With October marked as the mission month in the Christian calendar,the local parish has chosen care for environment as its theme this year.
* HELPING HANDS: Over 100 residents of Lourdes Colony took part in the drive