‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ is Bapu’s idea; should not be connected to politics: Mumbai Railways

The derive should only be seen related to Mahatma Gandhi, who always believed in cleanliness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wields a broom with NDMC workers to launch ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ in Valmiki Basti in New Delhi on Thursday. (Source: PTI photo)

In Mumbai, where the cleanliness drive saw two owners – BJP Central Government backed offices pitching it as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and the state government offices calling it a regular Gandhi Jayanti errand – the railways still recalled their first cleanliless drive, furiously administered by the then General Manager SPS Jain. Started in 2002, Jain started the drive–much to the reluctance of staff, to encourage a habit of cleanliness within the employees responsible for the infrastructure.

SPS Jain former General Manager CR , now retired, said, “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is not to be connected with politics. It should only be seen related to Mahatma Gandhi, who always believed in cleanliness.” Jain had used October 2 occasion to kick off the drive that covered all the areas.

“We started this in 2002 and then took it to other railway division outside Mumbai. We never saw it as a one day program, and it should not be seen as even today,” he added. Jain said the effort for railways has always been maintenance of garbage disposal system and active awareness to ensure that the drive extends to all days.

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The then DRM, Mumbai division, Central Railway, Vivek Sahai also supported the initiative and was actively monitoring it day and night. Wives of Railway officials would also lend their hand to the initiative. Between 2002 and 2003, many railway officials say that the UNICEF recognised heritage site –Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus was so clean that nobody dared to throw garbage on stations.

Officials recall, Mark Tully, former BBC bureau chief, admiring the initiative and going impressed with the manner in which the station and carriageways were looked after. Things changed after management changed and now the mandate to clean the platforms and railway tracks across the city limits are given on a contract basis.

On Thursday, while BJP ministers took some time to make a symbolic show of the drive by clearing platfroms, many railway staffers were heard complaining that none took to the tracks where the bulk of commuter garbage remain.

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