Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur

Puttur, Feb 4: In an inspiring display of collective responsibility, the ‘Namma Samskruti – Swachh Samskruti’ cleanliness campaign in Puttur has garnered state-wide appreciation. The initiative, conceptualized by Puttur taluk panchayat executive officer Naveen Bhandary, has seen active participation from all gram panchayats and the Puttur City Municipality over the past 10 days. The success of this campaign is now being considered a model for other taluks to follow.

Unlike usual government-led initiatives, this campaign erased hierarchical differences—presidents, vice presidents, members, and development officers all rolled up their sleeves and actively participated in cleaning activities from as early as 7 am. Their guiding mantra was simple, ‘Our Culture – Clean Culture’.

The campaign was launched with the goal of instilling awareness about cleanliness at the grassroots level. Gram panchayats took up the responsibility of not just waste disposal but also educating residents on proper waste management. Daily clean-up drives were conducted with the help of local organizations, clearing waste from roadsides and public spaces, thereby fostering a sense of hygiene and responsibility among villagers.

The initiative also emphasized proper waste segregation, categorizing waste into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and hazardous waste. Pamphlets, awareness rallies, and street plays were organized to educate residents about the importance of giving their segregated waste to designated panchayat vehicles instead of dumping it indiscriminately.

With the active guidance of designated nodal officers, all gram panchayats in Puttur taluk successfully carried out the campaign, leading to heightened awareness. Encouragingly, shopkeepers in some villages have now voluntarily decided to conduct weekly clean-up drives. Additionally, several violations of cleanliness norms were identified, resulting in fines and warnings being issued, reinforcing the campaign’s effectiveness.

The movement also witnessed enthusiastic participation from students of various schools and colleges, who joined cleanliness rallies and gained practical lessons on hygiene. Some gram panchayats, in collaboration with the Sansar Jodumar theatre group, conducted street plays to educate students and the public. The Nekkilady gram panchayat, for instance, organized a programme where students bringing segregated dry waste from home were rewarded, further promoting waste management awareness. Meanwhile, students of Veeramangala PM Shri School performed a play titled ‘Kasa da Kashta’ (The Plight of Waste), leaving a lasting impact on the community.

Despite efforts, highways and public areas in Bantwal, Moodbidri, Mangaluru, Beltangady, and Sullia taluks continue to witness indiscriminate waste dumping. Many residents have now expressed the need for a similar ‘Namma Samskruti – Swachh Samskruti’ campaign across the district to tackle this issue effectively. Areas like Neralakatte, Mani, and Sajipamunnur in Bantwal have been identified as spots where waste accumulation persists, further strengthening the demand for district-wide implementation of this initiative.

The campaign’s overwhelming success in Puttur has set a remarkable precedent, proving that cleanliness is not just a duty but a collective responsibility that can bring lasting change.