SDG Day to mark Martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi with
Swacchta Dandi March & Go Solar Cycle Rally
Today Martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi was marked by a unique and first of its kind ‘Swacchta Dandi March’ to make Chandigarh no. 1 in Cleanliness, by 300 students of St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, accompanied by FOSWAC representatives and Yuvsatta volunteers walking from Garden of Springs, Sector 53 to Martyr’s Memorial, Sector 3, Chandigarh. This programme was organized jointly by Yuvsatta-NGO, FOSWAC, Department of Environment, Chandigarh Administration & Eco Club of St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, Chandigarh.
And CREST with Yuvsatta organized a ‘Pumping the Pedals for Solar Chandigarh’ bicycle rally with 250 students of KBDAV Sr. Sec. Public School, Govt. Girls Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 18B & DAV Model School, Sector 15A, Chandigarh.
Mr. Debendra Dalai, CEO, CREST flagged-off the bicycle rally from Open Hand to Parade ground, spreading on the way the slogan of ‘Go Solar-Save Polar’. And before this he handed over a Swacch Bharat Flag to a students of St. Joseph’s who was dressed as Mahatam Gandhi to carry forward Mahatma message of ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’, from one corner of Chandigarh in Sector 53 to other end of Sector 3, walking through all the green garden in between like Palm Garden, Fragrance Garden, Shanti Kunj, Rose garden, Leisure Valley & Bougainvillea Garden in the end.
Addressing the gathering Mr. Debendra Dalai shared that they supported this proposal of Yuvsatta-NGO to observe January 30 as SDG Day with unique activities promoting Sustainable Development Goals- SDG 6: Water & Sanitation and SDG 7:Affordable & Clean Energy. As the very idea of sustainability figures prominently in Gandhiji’s teaching as well. He mentioned that, “What we do today, is our future.” He also said, “We should not look upon the natural resources – water, air, land – as inheritance from our forefathers.” He considered them to be the “loan given by our next generation.”
Monica Chawla, Principal of St. Joseph’s added that “for walking down from Sector 53 to Sector 3, they divided their students led by a student dressed as Mahatma Gandhi, into five groups carrying ‘Swachhta Abhiyan’ placards and sacks for collection of trash/garbage. And whole arrangement was made in such a way that one students has not to walk for more than 2 kms. After which one group handed over the ‘Swacchta Flag’ to other group to carry forward the message further.
Appreciating these initiatives Mayor, Smt. Raj Bala Malik said that, “along with our homes we live in, we should consider this whole city of Chandigarh as our home too. And if we want to make Chandigarh No. 1 in India, its expected from all of us to take care of cleanliness, sanitation, pedal for good health and clean air and promote solar at all levels.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Mr. Baljinder Singh Bittoo, Chairman, FOSWAC, Pramod Sharma, Coordinator, Yuvsatta-NGO & Mr. Kulbhushan Kanwar, environmentalist.
SDG Day to mark Martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi with Swacchta Dandi March & Go Solar Cycle Rally
On the occasion, St. Joseph’s students also sang favourite bhajan’s of Gandhiji, The programme ended with a ‘Swacchta Pledge’, which Mayor Mrs. Raj Bala Malik administered to all students and in the end Josephite’s dressed as Mahatma Gandhi handed over the Swacchta Flag to Mayor to carry forward the spirit of cleanliness in all nooks and corners of the city.
