Mysuru – More than 500 people joined H.V. Rajeev Sneha Balaga in its 150th cleanliness drive as part of the 156th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Park in Ashokapuram here this morning.

The volunteers of the Balaga, who assembled at the park at about 7.30 am, were soon joined by members of various other organisations. Rajeev launched the drive after garlanding the statue of Ambedkar at the Park. Speaking on the occasion, he said “Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Swachh Bharat, I, along with like-minded people, decided to take a plunge. From Nov. 10, 2014, the drive was conducted on weekends and went up to 25 weeks. Later, the drive was shifted to Sundays and has now touched 150 weeks.”

Be it a school ground or burial ground, bus stand or Police Station premises, among several other public places, the volunteers will clean the premises and collect waste, said Rajeev, who is also the President of District Co-operative Union.

Senior littérateur Dr. C.P. Krishnakumar, who also spoke, called upon people to follow the footsteps of great people such as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Basavanna, Buddha, Kuvempu and others in order to cleanse ourselves which in turn would help in keeping the city and its surroundings clean.

Swami Mokshathmanandaji Maharaj of Sri Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysuru,  too lauded the efforts of the Balaga. Even Ramakrishna Ashram has been conducting cleanliness drives regularly in city, the  Swamiji added.

RSS leader M. Venkatram, Deputy Mayor Rathna Lakshman, District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Dr. Y.D. Rajanna,

Gandhi Study Centre Director Dr. S. Shivarajappa, MDJA President K. Deepak, former Mayor Purushotham, Corporators Sunil and M.V. Ramprasad and others were present.