What do Mysuru and Yoga have in common? Both made it to the record books — Mysuru city bagged the ‘Cleanest City of India’ tag twice under Swachh Survekshan Survey while the Largest Yoga Class at a single venue found a pride of place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

After Mysuru city lost its crown for a hat-trick and slid to fifth position in the latest survey taken up by the Union Government, the MCC is leaving no stone unturned for the next survey in January 2018 to ensure that the City of Palaces does not miss the rank again. The MCC, which had earlier roped in royal family member Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and former Indian cricketer Javagal Srinath as its Brand Ambassadors, has now brought in a child prodigy, an international yoga champion Khushi as its Ambassador to keep Mysuru’s image ‘clean.’ This young Ambassador too has entered the Golden Book of World Records for her feat in performing yogasanas.

The MCC is also gearing up to create awareness on “citizen participation” which is a major criterion to regain the Cleanest City tag by announcing a ‘Swachh Mysuru’ contest for citizens under various categories. This is as it should be as a responsible City Corporation. However, it is sad that one can see the residents, unmindful of the repercussions, dumping the household garbage anywhere and everywhere. This is burdening the Pourakarmikas who are regular in clearing garbage mounds across city risking their own health. This newspaper’s WhatsApp column is giving a wake up call to MCC to clear the dump on a war-footing.

Apart from solid waste management, managing building construction debris is another challenge before the civic body of heritage city of Mysuru in emerging as the Cleanest City in the country. Namma Mysuru can retain the Numero Uno spot only if the citizens co-operate in MCC’s door-to-door garbage collection and ensure more efficient waste disposal in the city witnessing yoga revival and thriving.

If there is no mass support, Mysuru cannot script yet another page in history like the mass yoga did. Just like Yogis took yoga to the world, let the Bhogis take the Raja’s city a notch higher for we the citizens to breathe easy, breathe healthy and to avoid leading the life of a Rogi.

While a few voluntary groups, organisations and institutions led by good samaritans have joined in the action aimed at keeping the city environs clean, it is unfair to overburden the civic staff with the task as a considerable number of residents are yet to fall in line. Also, as the idiom goes: First deserve, then desire (for the coveted tag).