NGOs zero in on cleanliness drive

Dignity Foundation, an organisation working for the welfare of senior and retired citizens in Mumbai, which also publishes the monthly magazine Dignity Dialogue, has decided to utilise its time and experience to implement its “Cleaning Mumbai with Dignity” project.

“We have about 10,000 subscribers in the city, who, instead of spending an idle retired life, crave to return something to society by way of social service, or merely intend keeping themselves active by doing something worthy,” said Dr Sheilu Sreenivasan, the foundation’s president.

“In keeping with the foundation’s aim of providing structural opportunities to senior citizens to live a respectful retired life, we have devised an action plan in collaboration with the BMC to utilise its services to clean Mumbai,” she added.

One senior citizen who has already taken the plunge is M D Nathani, who after his retirement as an executive two years ago, was feeling depressed at “being out of the driver’s seat.” As project director, he says, he is feeling “as young as a 45-year-old since the day I took up this job.”

He pointed out, “If the BMC can clean Dharavi, why can’t we help clean the entire city? You can’t expect a clean city by passing the buck on to the BMC. The efforts of Viren Merchant and other residents in Joshi Lane demonstrate the need not just for doing one’s bit, but also cutting one’s old habits to clean the city.” Express Newsline had earlier reported the transformation of Joshi Lane from what was then called kachara galli to being a role model lane.

As per the project, one Chief Dignitarian will be appointed in each civic ward to supervise the work, to be carried out by about 25 Dignitarians. It will be formally inaugurated by Municipal Commissioner Girish Gokhale on January 26 at the Birla Kreeda Kendra at Chowpatty.

“The aim is not to blame the BMC for its negligence, but to find mutual solutions to the problems of its conservancy department,” he added.

Also pitching in are groups like the Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI), Society for Clean Environment (SCE) and the Welfare Organisation for Road Safety and Prevention of Accidents (WORSPA), which have jointly launched a People’s Movement to enable persons from all age groups to participate in the drive.

In order to ensure maximum response, three rolling trophies will be awarded to areas judged as most clean. The BMC will provide volunteers with identity cards and letters to introduce themselves to residents of their respective wards and ward officers.

A volunteer has tosubmit his name, complete address, ward classification, experience along with a copy of a passport size photograph to WORSPA president Edward Alva, at 10/5, Brady Flats, Colaba, Mumbai – 400 005.