Vijayawada Division flags off ‘Swachhata Pakhwada-2023’

Fortnight Cleanliness Drive Campaign  

The Swachh Rail – Swachh Bharat campaign got off to a flying start on South Central Railway – Vijayawada Division with the commencement of the fortnight long, “Swachhata Hi Sewa – Swachhata Pakhwada” on 16th September, 2023 which will culminate on 2nd October, 2023, the Gandhi Jayanthi Day. 

Shri Narendra A. Patil, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada administered Swachhata Pledge to Officers, Staff and Contract Workers at the Clock Tower, East Main Entrance, Vijayawada Railway Station. DRM and Branch Officers participated in the plantation drive and Shramdaan at the Station. A huge cleanliness awareness rally carrying placards was conducted starting from Clock Tower to Gandhi Waiting Hall, Platform No.1 of Vijayawada Station via Divisional Office and Jack & Jill High School.

Interacting with the media, Shri Narendra A Patil, DRM said that all must come forward to make India and Indian Railways clean and green. DRM appealed to the public to shun the use of single use plastic, affecting the flora and fauna of our environment in myriad ways.  DRM stressed on the use of cloth bags, paper bags and jute bags which are biodegradable and easily disposable in environment-friendly manner. Shri Narendra A Patil advised the Officers and staff to pledge 100 hours every week voluntarily to clean station premises, offices and public spaces. He also instructed the staff to implement ban on ‘single-use plastic’ in letter and spirit and adopt the practice of ‘reduce’, ‘recycle’, ‘reuse’. He also commended the Bharat Scouts & Guides for voluntarily taking part in this campaign and also thanked the railway men, house-keeping staff who put efforts day and night to keep stations clean. 

As part of Swachhata Awareness campaign a Nukkad Natak was played by Bharat Scouts & Guides at Mahatma Gandhi Waiting Hall on Platform No.1 with great enthusiasm which received with good response from the passengers. Students briefed the gathering about the ill-effects of plastic and the need of awareness through their play. Shri M Srikanth, Additional Divisional Manager, Operations appreciated the play enacted by the students. Shri Narendra A Patil, DRM and Branch officers distributed cloth carry bags to passengers on the occasion with the caption ‘Say no to Plastic’. 

Dr. Shahida, Divisional Medical Officer, Vijayawada Hospital conducted Multi-purpose Health checkup camp organized on platform no.1 at Vijayawada Railway station for house-keeping staff and distributed medicines free of cost.

Similarly, Swachhata Pledge was administered along with Shramdaan by respective Nominated Officers, Station Managers and Supervisors at various stations all over Vijayawada Division.

The ensuing Swachhata Hi Sewa – Pakhwada will see a host of activities including Swachh Awareness, Cleanliness Dialog with Public, Clean Trains, Clean Stations, Community Day, Clean Workplace, Clean Residential Premises, Clean Food, Clean Water, Clean Toilets Etc.

Shri D Srinivasa Rao, ADRM (Infrastructure); Shri M Srikanth, ADRM (Operations); Shri L. Ravi Kanth, ACMS, H&FW; Shri Ram Chandra Sahoo, Sr.DEnHM; Shri M. Ravi Kiran, Sr. DME; Shri. M. Bala Muralidhar, Sr. DPO;; Shri S Varun Babu, Sr. DEN, Coord; Shri T Suresh Babu, Sr. DEE/M; Shri K Srinivasa Rao, Sr.DEE, TRSO; Shri K Sridhar, DEN/East; Shri R N Sinha, Sr.DMM; Shri P B N Prasad, Station Director; Shri G Madhusudhana Rao, ASC; Ms. Nusrat M. Mandrupkar, PRO; Other officers and staff of Vijayawada Division participated in the rally and Swachhata campaign at Vijayawada Railway Station.