Clean India Campaign

This is not the first time that I have seen the top man going after cleanliness……

• One such case: One of the few and strong dictates of Ashwani Lohani when he took over as CME of northern railway was to ask for cleanliness….. he used to have a focus group meeting every Wednesday, in compliance to which people would be required to boast how many trucks of scrap they have sent to stores….

What is it about cleanliness, that it attracts big people to it like a bee to honey? And what comes next, after the initial pomp and show of cleanliness drive is lost…… some reflections

For myself, I have been attempting to follow them close to their heels and have always walked into dark corners (having learnt from these great souls) and ask for people make their surroundings clean….

• In my earlier posting at Lucknow forced a week long cleanliness drive at the office and got tons of scrap paper removed, cob webs removed, tables and chairs repainted, almirahs redone…….  What followed next was a renovation plan for the office and it is good to see that it finally paid off.
• On landing up at Jamalpur, have so far got the office and store cleaned up. Have also got cleanliness drives launched in the hostels and got store rooms specially cleaned out. The next step involves a renovations plan, which surprisingly suffers on account of lack of will, rather then because of lack of money.

So what should one expect after the launch of the Clean India campaign

• A massive and comprehensive garbage disposal plan
• Every small unit to identify what small and big changes it requires to sustain this campaign
• A massive TV campaign on personal hygiene, cleanliness,
• A mass availability of inhouse/ portable/ temporary/ self sustaining toilets (I am sure not being a socialist or communist, MODI would not make them free for anyone, but would only encourage their availability and next look upon people to but their own toilets, or NGO’s to sponsor them for those who cannot afford)… THIS ONE STEP IS CLOSE TO MY HEART….
• AND, ofcourse a route we have not taken so far, but needs to be carefully walked….
  • A quantum change in personal hygiene standards……
    • How to leave a toilet once you have used it……. flush toilet, wipe seat, wipe off  the water from the floor and the sink, etc (we need a new list prepared)
    • Wash and rub your hands, like how your dadi asked you to…. you have to wash your hands for 30 secs.
    • Leave your shoes outside….