Case Study by Mr. Virendra Kumar - Swachh Bharat Circle (Bangalore South)

Dear all:

Below is the case study submitted by Mr. Virendra Kumar from Swachh Bharat (Bangalore South circle) on how citizens recently came together for a cleanliness drive.

This was exactly the objective behind creating the Swachh Bharat local circles in various constituencies in India.

Mr. Kumar's write up highlights how things fell into place once they took the on the ground Swachh Bharat initiative.

Every member is requested to read the case study and take inspiration from it to get your local circle to start initiating on the ground cleanliness drives.

And, do share your experiences so they can be broadcasted to all who believe in Swachh Bharat. One such document on "Cleanliness pledge by shopkeepers" as shared by Mr. Kumar is attached.

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Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Experience Sharing : Bangalore South

By Virendra Kumar

Swachh Bharat campaign was conducted around Brigade Millennium and neighborhood Shops
On Puttannahalli Road-Brigade Avenue-Kothnur Road, on 28th Dec’14, 08.00 AM to 09.00 AM

Some of the salient highlights are, as follows:

1. BM Residents’ Participation: To give a unique identity to BM Residents, not knowing how many will turn up, due to long Winter Holidays; we had arranged only 100 Caps, with Swachh Bharat symbol printed in the front and Brigade Millennium embroidered on the reverse side. To our utter surprise, the Caps fell short of supply. Many more Residents came out and participate in the cleaning process, than our expectation. Some Residents even postponed their departure till this Program is over. Even many Silver Citizens over 70 years age and children below 10 years were seen cleaning the footpaths, just out of enthusiasm, not for any photo-ops, braving the early morning chill and rather cold weather today. Even the house cleaning staff of our gated community participated, in the Abhiyan. Many BM Residents, after cleaning the footpaths, themselves, informed me: “now I understand how difficult it is to clean the streets, what is ‘Dignity of Labour’?”, etc.

2. Speeches by BM Residents’ children (classes IV to VI): Believe me, these speeches were a great eye-opener. One Student even stated: ‘I am not the type, who will follow a leader blindly, just because he is exhorting us to work for Swachh Bharat. He elaborated, how he deliberated on NaMo’s call, and found a reason, therefor. I will post the Speeches of the six students, after taking permission from their parents. Believe me, today's children (‘Y’ or ‘Z’ generation?) are very bold, well-informed and better teachers than we are or our elders have been. It was a great experience listening to their speeches.

3. Unique BM Resident: I became friends with a unique Owner of several factories, who prefers to remain incognito, but likes to help, in any Social Service, with his own “Shram Daan” and “Dhan Daan”. He says: “NaMo is spending 18 hours a day for the Society. I am spending 10 hours a day to earn for myself. Can I not serve even six hours for Social Service!” He is a noble man. I respect his privacy. Therefore, I will not disclose his identity.

4. Shops: Shops open normally after 10.00 AM. However, many shopkeepers turned up early morning, on our request, to participate, in this program. They even agreed to display a Pledge, as attached, prominently, in their Shops.

5. BBMP: In my earlier posts, I have been cursing BBMP. However, I got a new experience, today. Sh Narayan AEE, from BBMP MICO Layout office (Mobile: 9845131223) came with mini-trucks to help us in the cleaning, collection and transportation of garbage. The Readers of this Post, may like to call him up and learn how the residents, where he lives, themselves have been keeping the area clean, even before NaMo gave a call, for Swachh Bharat movement. He himself is a great supporter of the Swachh Bharat movement.

6. Municipal Counselor: He led his own team to clean up and assured all help to us, in future.

7. Help from Unknown Volunteers: These Volunteers made a tremendous contribution in the cleaning operation. ‘HATS OFF’ to them! One of the Volunteers took our names and Mobile nos. He said that spread the word that, if any other Colony needs any help in conducting the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, his team will come. I told him that he may inform us, we will also like to participate in the Swachh Bharat campaign in other Colonies, in Bangalore. His name is Sh Varada Reddy (Mob: 9449270767).

Friends, NaMo said: clean yourself and nominate nine others. However, if we follow the unknown Volunteers example, the movement will progress geometrically.

Swachh Bharat will be accomplished, well before the year 2019, deadline.

Moral of the Story: Dear Readers, stop cursing BBMP, Govt, etc.. Take a leadership role. It will appear to you that you are shooting in the dark, nobody will come, it will be a flop show, (as we felt till 27th night), etc. However, believe me, some hidden hand comes to help those, who initiate a good social cause.

Thanks, for your patiently reading this long post.

Wish you and your family, a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Virendra Kumar more