Supporting the ‘Swachh- Bharat’ Abhiyaan

This gives me a feeling of pride when I cover such stories! This story was done when the parents, teachers, students as well as Principals of various schools of my city Jalandhar stepped out and supported the motion of against, the petition filed by a Mumbai based lawyer against the children participation in clean India drive.

Where a major chunk of population didn’t hesitate holding brooms to sweep the roads, including children, there a Mumbai based lawyer recently filed a petition (which has been refused by Bombay High Court) that challenged a government circular sent to schools etc asking children to participate in Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan on the occasion of Children’s Day.

Most of the city based schools regularly followed the Abhiyaan in which the students participated and cleaned their classrooms and other surroundings, to such an extent that they have started doing the same job at their homes too.

If we want to see ‘Swachh Bharat’ after ten years from now, we need to talk to the children as they will be adults at that time, believes Ranjana Rajput, Principal. She further says, “Clean India mission is not a job of single team, it’s a group effort. In this, students can play a vital role as they are the future of nation. The petition filed is totally vague. We have started this campaign in a very healthier manner. We have provided all the students with aprons, caps and gloves so that they don’t fall sick. We don’t make them hold brooms; rather motivate them to pick up the wrappers etc in the corridors as well as in classrooms. They took it so enthusiastically that they now scold other students if they observe them throwing litter on floor. The main aim is inculcate the spirit of cleanliness among them so that they can keep their surroundings clean.”

Another Principal of a city-based school Savita Mishra shares, “If you say that picking up brooms and cleaning the surroundings by children is child labor, then, it is meaningless statement made. Our PM has taken a right initiative after getting encouragement from his foreign visits. We should support whole-heartedly.

Students of my school have taken this drive in high spirits. Teachers keep telling them to surround themselves in a clean environment and to remain clean themselves too. Cleaning classrooms etc should not be taken in a wrong way as the lawyer wished to.”

The teachers, who are considered as the best friends and guides for the students are equally participating in this drive so that their students don’t feel shy in doing the job. Ginni Narula, a primary wing teacher says, “We too equally participate with the students just to encourage them for a good cause. I was stunned to see that not even a single student said ‘NO’ to hold a broom and to sweep the area.”

“Students have taken this in such a positive spirit that the parents have started appreciating us as and when students go back home, they often do similar jobs”, says Ravipreet, another teacher of primary wing.

Supporting the same campaign, Dolly Mahajan, a mother of a son tells, “I am thankful to my son’s school team for starting this drive in their campus. My son use to make his room a mess earlier but now, he understands the importance of cleanliness. Whenever at home on holidays, he now guides the maid to clean the home properly.”

Not only female kids, even the boys too are equally participating. A mother of eight year old son Maninder Kaur, while applauding the efforts says, “We have often seen girls doing the cleanliness work at homes but now, boys have also started. Children are the ones who have sharp brains and they retain things at a very faster pace. Hence, telling them about this mission and its merits, will surely contribute in attainting the target of clean nation.”

Note: The interview was originally published in The Times of India supplement, Jalandhar Times.