As a part of the ongoing Swachhta Pakhwada 2019 and creating mass awareness, a large scale special environmental cleanliness drive was organized by Clinical Research Unit (H), CRU(H), Port Blair in collaboration with PBMC at Councilor Colony here today.

Padmashree awardee Naresh Chander Lal, Swachh Bharat Ambassador for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Ward Councilor, Mrs. Protima Banerjee, Deputy Director, Directorate of Census (DCO) Mr. SV Rao,and Mr Alvi, S. I., Gd-II, DCO were also present during the event. The Officials, Staff members and labourers of PBMC along with staff members of Directorate of Census extended their full support in the cleanliness drive.

The programme started with the introductory speech by Dr. Uttam Singh, Officer In-charge, CRU(H). He said that the cleanliness drive was organized as a part of Swacchta Pakhwada to sensitize the people about the environmental hygiene by taking necessary steps for cleaning their surroundings.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Naresh Chander Lal also expressed his concern that unless the people realized their moral responsibilities and change their attitude and habits towards cleanliness the aim and objective of Swachhta cannot be achieved. He stressed upon that the youth and children should be motivated in spreading the awareness as they are the torch bearers of Clean and green India. He also appreciated the efforts of PBMC Officials, Staff and Ward Councillors in making the surroundings clean in extreme climatic conditions and thanked CRU(H) for the initiative.

Mrs. Protima Banerjee, Ward Councillor urged  to take small initiatives for keeping the city clean through such drives and explained the difficulties faced due to the geographical locations of areas in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. She praised the initiatives taken by the Officials and Staff members of CRU(H), Port Blair and was optimistic to take positive measures for cleanliness in future. Mr. SV Rao and Mr. Alvi, DCO, Port Blair also addressed the gathering on the occasion.

Approximately 70-80 people actively took part in the drive with full enthusiasm. The drive started with picking and collecting the solid wastes and segregating the garbage in the surroundings of Colony which included all kind of plastics, liquid wastes etc. and disposing them off properly The roads were cleaned properly and the clogged  drains were also opened to prevent formation of breeding sites and water logging.  The Sanitary Inspectors of the area also actively monitored the drive for effective implementation of the programme. The thickly grown bushes and unwanted grown up vegetations were also cleaned.  The Staffs of CRU (H), Port Blair volunteered along with the guests of occasion and the Municipal workers and gave due  Shramdaan in the drive. Efforts were made to clean the each section of the area to provide a good healthy environment for the residents. CRU (H) operates under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, and Government of India.