“There is also the need for the cleanliness of thoughts and raising the voice against tyranny and hatred”-Engineer Mohammad Salim.
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI—Various speakers at a function “Har Qadam Swachchata Ki Or”(Each Step Towards Cleanliness) held on Sunday stressed on the need for cleaner environment and minds free of ‘toxic thoughts’ against fellow human beings.
The programme was organised at the India Islamic Cultural Centre by NGO-Society for Bright Future (SBF). The programme was part of a year-long nationwide cleanliness drive to make a meaningful contribution towards a ‘Cleaner and Greener’ India. Before the launch of the programme, a cycle rally was organised from SBF’s headquarters in Abul Fazal Enclave to Mandi House.
Speaking on the occasion, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind vice president Engineer Mohammad Salim said the campaign will create awareness about the significance of hygienic environment. He said every human being loves nature and purity is the hallmark of nature. By setting an example, the campaign will bring people close to nature, he added. In an oblique reference to the prevailing toxic political and social atmosphere in the country, Engineer Salim said there is also need for the cleanliness of thoughts and raising the voice against tyranny and hatred.
Noted scholar Abdul Rasheed Agwan, setting the tone of the programme, said “Cleanliness helps and enhances our self growth.” Agwan, who pioneered the cleanliness drive in the Muslim dominated Jamia Nagar Okhla in South Delhi, shared his experiences with the audience. He said a healthy environment is a prerequisite for the progress of humankind.
In his presidential remarks, NITI Ayog director Manoj Kumar Upadhyay said polluted and unhygienic environment affects human activity and productivity. He said philanthropist Bill Gates estimated that India suffers 106 billion dollar losses annually due to the poor waste management which affects people’s health.
Highlighting the government schemes for waste management, he said, “Garbage dump heaps produce harmful gases. ‘Jan bhaagidari’ (public participation) is what we need. Make models or set good examples are a request to all the citizens and the government bodies”. He also said the fund will be a no issue for taking up such campaigns.
Radio jockey R J Naved, speaking on the occasion, said, “We should think out of the box methods in persuading people to keep the environment clean”.
“Stop preaching about cleanliness, start setting examples for community use, use social media, make videos to motivate people, most importantly change the way of conveying,” the celebrity added.
Dr Syed Farooq, former MP Mahabal Mishra, JIH secretary general T. Arif Ali, AAP MLA Amanatullah khan, Acharya Sushil Goswami Maharaj, Father M D Thomas, Sikh jathedar Gyani Ranjeet Singh, Sister BK Asha, and JIH vice president Nusrat Ali and others also shared their thoughts on the issue.
Stand-up Comedian Ehsaan Qureshi enthralled the audience with his humorous poetry and witty barbs.
During the proceedings, campaign brochure was also released by the guests and the campaign’s video was screened.
In his concluding remarks, SBF president Nusrat Ali said, “For the year-long campaign, we have selected 100 cities and towns from across the country and we will educate people about a healthy environment. We will focus specially on slums and resettlements where basic civic amenities are not available”.
About SBF
Society for Bright Future that has initiated a year-long nationwide cleanliness intends to team up with the local government bodies, corporates, and local community leaders and grassroots volunteers to execute a sustained sanitation drive at 100 different locations in the country.
The NGO is a national disaster management organization and it will focus on areas such as educational institutions, railways, bus stands, agriculture markets, water bodies and recreational parks, and health centres etc.
Among 100 places where sanitation drives will be organized are Jabalpur, Varanasi, Ranchi, Guwahati, Meerut, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Patna, Jaipur., Hyderabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Azamgarh and Chennai.
Cycle Rally
Before the launch of the function, JIH general secretary T. Arif Ali and Er. Saleem flagged off a cycle rally from SBF’s headquarter. About 50 cyclists participated in the rally. Another rally flagged off was from the Al-Shifa hospital, Abul Fazal Enclave, by hospital director Col. (retd) Safdar Zafar. The rally criss-crossed Abul Fazal, Jamia Nagar, Ashram Chowk, Nizamuddin and India Gate to reach India Islamic Cultural Centre at Lodhi Road.
