NORTHERN RAILWAY FLAGS OFF SWACCH BHARAT MISSION - A SPECIAL CLEANLINESS CAMPAIGN on THE OCCASION OF GANDHI JAYANTI
RAILWAY PERSONNEL EXPRESS SOLIDARITY on THE ISSUE OF CLEANLINESS THROUGH SHRAMDAAN on THE SOLEMN OCCASION OF GANDHI JAYANTI
In keeping with the standards of good and healthy living and the need for sanitation & cleanliness in public places in the country, both envisioned and practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and in tribute to his lofty ideals and insistence on the need for maintenance of sanitation and cleanliness, this year under the leadership and direction of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and Shri. Sadananda Gowda Hon’ble Minister for Railways, the Railway officers and staff re-dedicated themselves through a Shramdaan movement on the solemn occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Sh Narendra Modi, Hon’ble the Prime Minister of India, launched his ambitious Swachh Bharat Missionall over India today. Shri. Sadananda Gowda, Hon’ble Minister for Railway initiated the Swacch Bharat campaign at New Delhi station. This special drive which could be termed as one of its kind massive cleanliness campaign includes “Shramdaan” and awareness activities to ensure greater level of hygiene and sanitation at stations, at workplaces, at workshops as well as at the railway colonies. Northern Railway officers and staff undertook the cleanliness pledge at all divisional headquarters office and at various stations.
Leading the campaign from the front at New Delhi station , Shri. Sadananda Gowda picked up the broom at footover bridge, Platform No.16 and in the parking area at New Delhi station. Several dignitaries who were present on the occasion and who also participated with enthusiasm include Hon’ble Health Minister Shri Harshvardhan, Member of Rajya Sabha Shri Vijay Goel, Member of Parliament Lok Sabha Shri Manoj Tiwari. Shri Arunendra Kumar, Chairman, Railway Board, Shri R.C.Agrawal and Shri Pradeep Kumar General Managers Northern, North-Central & North-Western Railways, Shri Anurag Sachan, Divisional Railway Manager, Northern Railway, Delhi and senior Railway officers and staff were also present. Shri Arunendra Kumar, Chairman, Railway Board, administered the ‘Swacch Bharat pledge of cleanliness’ on the occasion and railway officers and staff present at the premises also expressed their solidarity. The Hon’ble Minister of Railways also inspected the Bio-toilet exhibition at Platform No.1, Waiting Halls and other premises at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations.
At Delhi Jn. station Member Traffic, Railway Board, Shri D.P.Pande led the campaign. He was accompanied by Shri Mohammed Jamshed Chief Operations Manager, Northern Railway and Shri Ashok Kumar, Chief Commercial Manager, Northern Railway. At Anand Vihar railway station, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Shri Maheish Girri, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly, Delhi, Shri Om Prakash led the Swacch Bharat campaign. Member Engineering, Railway Board Shri V.K.Gupta and Principal Chief Engineer, Northern Railway, Shri A.K.Harit participated on the occasion. At Hazrat Nizamuddin station, Additional General Manager, Northern Railway, Shri Anup Sahu who led the campaign also hosted various activities like March Past with R.P.F. Band and Nukkad Natak to mark the occasion.
Indian Railways regularly ferries around 2.40 crore passengers (which compares to approx the whole population of the continent of Australia). Northern Railways strives to make the journey of passengers a world class experience. But every year, Railways receives maximum number of complaints about untidy stations and lack of cleanliness in trains. It also faces problem of ensuring cleanliness of tracks
A comprehensive “Cleanliness Action Plan” was prepared covering stations, tracks, workshops, railway colonies etc for keeping the sphere of work neat and clean. The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) and Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM) co-ordinated these activities and deployed sufficient officials and allocated material resources at requisite places. Officers of divisional level were given the responsibility of leading the campaign and were deputed at 52 major stations including New Delhi, Delhi Jn, H.Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar Terminal etc.
As part of this endeavor, the railway tracks located between stations were cleaned of accumulated debris, rubbish and plastic wastes along with proper cleaning of drains. Track Cleaning Machine (heavy duty equipment mounted on Railway wagon for extensive benefit of rail passengers and to sustain a cleaner environment in the division) indigenously designed by Delhi Division, Northern Railway in association with IRCON at the cost of Rs 65 Lakhs had earlier been pressed into service for mechanized clearance of litter/ garbage, lying on and alongside the rail track, besides jet cleaning of drains, etc. at various station yards of Delhi division. Sewer cleaning machines were used to clean underground sewers. Thereafter periodic maintenance cleaning shall be followed in subsequent days. For proper Scrap disposal in stations of Delh Jn. area rag pickers were deployed at various stations and wagons were provided for removal of scraps.
As part of this campaign, efforts were made to ensure the involvement of passengers and to educate the masses about the necessity of keeping the railway premises clean. This was carried out through regular announcements on the public address system, airing of cleanliness messages and clippings on CCTVs, and distribution of pamphlets, posters, stickers and banners containing cleanliness messages among the travelling public.
Citizens were encouraged to come forward and participate wholeheartedly in this campaign. Further, Nukkad Nataks were organized at railway stations, railway colonies and railway offices to motivate the Railway staff to keep their workplaces clean. Railways were assisted in this endeavor by Civil Defense officials, an NGO “Chintan” and schools along with Scouts and Guides from Railways
Deterrent action was taken against Rail users and catering contractors of trains who are found dirtying the railway station premises and railway tracks and heavy penal fines were imposed on them. A fine (upto Rs. 500/-) was imposed upon passengers found littering Railway premises.
It is envisaged that this show of solidarity by Railway personnel would increase awareness amongst the general public to take pride in the maintenance of cleanliness & sanitation on the Railways.