Javagal Srinath leads awareness drive about waste segregation

Mysuru: A festive atmosphere enveloped the Basavangudi Park of Hebbal I Stage here on Tuesday morning. Locals gathered in large numbers to have a glimpse of former Indian Test cricketer Javagal Srinath, who was in the neighbourhood to launch the second Clean Mysuru Campaign organised by The Times of India and Mysuru City Corporation (MCC).

For hundreds of daily walkers of this park, it was a pleasant surprise. Most waited to listen to Srinath’s pep talk on making the city clean and green.

Srinath, who led the walk, interacted with several residents and created awareness about the green bucket for wet waste and blue bucket for dry waste. He requested them to start waste segregation at the earliest and make their neighborhood a model for others.

Clean Warrior and former MLC D Madegowda, who was present on the occasion, spoke about the way forward for Mysuru. He said that more than 20 residential welfare organisations of the locality are working to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the area. "MCC must join hands with all stakeholders to ensure that in 2018, the city will regain its glory of being the country's cleanest city," he added.

MCC commissioner G Jagadeesha said the cleanliness drive should become part of our routine and students have an important role in creating awareness at the family level. "I wish that our students talk about waste segregation at source with their parents and ensure that every household contributes towards Clean Mysuru," he said, adding, “Cleanliness is essential to maintain public health and safety. All must join hands together voluntarily,” he said.

Local corporator and former deputy mayor Mahadevappa said residents must strive hard to make the area a model in the city.

Deputy mayor Rathna Lakshman, corporator K T Chaluvegowda were present on the occasion.

Students rally to the cause

Over 500 students in Hebbal and Metagalli took out a Swachhtha rally in Hebbal I Stage here on Tuesday as part of The Times Of India Clean Mysuru campaign. Students from Shikshkarni, Vidyanikethan School, JSS High School, Puttaswamy High School, Annayappa Byraveshwara School, and Government High School, Metagalli were part of the drive.

The rally, flagged off by Javagal Srinath, who is the brand ambassador of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), from the Basavangudi Park in Hebbal saw children spreading awareness about cleanliness and hygiene in the door-to-door campaign. Children carried placards with a meassage of cleanliness and pasted stickers on households which had information related to waste segregation.

Deepa Prashanth, a teacher of JSS High School, said, “It’s important to carry out such drives as it creates awareness among children and adults are receptive to their message.”

Praktuthi Mahadev and Jeevan S, class 8 students of JSS High School said, “Awareness campaigns are the need of the hour for Mysuru to regain the top spot in the Swachh Bharat rankings. We need to clean up our surroundings as much as possible.”

When students are aware of things, they will, in turn, spread awareness, said Manju Somegowda, a teacher of AnnayappaByraveshwara School. By maintaining cleanliness, we can keep diseases such as dengue and malaria at bay. People should see us children and get motivated to keep their surroundings clean, said Teja Nanda, a class 9 student of AnnayappaByraveshwara School.

Spoorthi B, a class 9 student said. “Citizens should be proactive and use the app. They need to click photos of waste dumped and upload it to the app to help MCC clear it.”

Nagaraj, a resident of Hebbal said: “The initiative by the The Times of India is a step in the right direction. Children will learn about cleanliness and be conscious about maintaining cleanliness.”

Retired MCC employee Kanthraj said education about segregation is essential to manage waste. It’s a good initiative to educate children and residents. “When a locality is clean, diseases will be kept at bay,” he said.

Such campaigns should be done all over the city involving students to teach them about the importance of waste management, cleanliness, and hygiene. When children are aware and motivated, they’ll create awareness at home and in their neighbourhood, said M C Suprabha, a teacher of Government High School.

Locals feel the campaign is a step towards making residents more alert about the waste segregation process, and to cut down dependence on the use of plastic.

According to locals, this zone, which comprises 5 wards, is known as one of the fast developing residential areas of the city. “One of the major issues of the locality, is the generation of plastic waste. Many a times, plastic is burnt in the open by vendors and residents. We wish, that the campaign will bring some changes in the attitude of locals towards disposing waste,” said S Harinarayana, a regular walker at Basavanagudi park.

"In shops, milk booths and hotels, plastic items are used widely. The MCC ban order on plastic has very little impact on them. We wish this campaign will bring positive changes,” he said.

Many feel engaging students in the campaign, and Javagal Srinath's door-to-door visits, will open the eyes of one and all on the issue. "Mysuru has become a pensioner's paradise today, but cleanliness is one of the issues in a few areas. Hope people will realize the importance of keeping their surroundings hygienic, following these kinds of efforts," said Saraswathi Bai, a resident of Vijayanagara.