Rishikesh women form group to keep surroundings clean

Haridwar, January 15

Activists of the Bhaulputri Mahila Sewa Samiti clean garbage in the Dalwala colony in Rishikesh on Friday. These women have formed the samiti with the aim to clean their areas. 

Women from Dhalwala in Rishikesh have formed a social committee, ‘Bhaulputri Mahila Sewa Samiti’, under which they will hold cleanliness and awareness programmes. On the pious occasion of Makar Sankranti today, these women took a pledge to clean their surroundings and generate awareness among people.

The samiti members also decided to hold a cleanliness drive in their colonies every week. Rampyari Devi, president of the Bhaulputri Mahila Sewa Samiti, told The Tribune that seeing local residents, pilgrims and tourists throwing filth and garbage on Ganga ghats and in colonies, they decided to emphasise on the need to hold a cleanliness drive as well as an awareness campaign.

“Rishikesh is a world renowned pilgrim city but it lags behind in cleanliness. We have brought this to the notice of the Municipal Committee chairperson and local ward members as well as the city legislator. We felt that we all should contribute individually and hence we decided to hold a cleanliness drive in our colonies every week,” said Ram Pyari.

Samiti vice-president Savita Joshi said they were also seeking support of some spiritual and religious organizations that had willingly assured of help. “We have received support from Parmarth Niketan Swarg Ashram spiritual ideologue Swami Chidanand Muni Saraswati, who is providing us basic cleaning equipment and services of volunteers. Swami Chidanand Muni has donated 14 bighas to the samiti where a skill development and community centre for local women will be established,” said Sarita Semwal, a senior member of the committee.

Parmarth Niketan representative Mohan Singh said Swami Chidanand Muni on knowing about the initiative of the women’s group sent ashram volunteers to help it. He lauded their efforts in realising the clean India initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It’s inspiring to see women cleaning lanes in Dhalwala colony. Many residents, who were trying to throw garbage, did not do it and returned while some of them dumped the garbage in bins. Seeing us cleaning the colony, many young girls and housewives enquired about the initiative and expresses their willingness to join us,” said Poonam Bhatt, an activist.