Mysuru:  Pursuant to the directives of the Ministry of Railways, Mysuru Division, South Western Railway (SWR) has organised ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ campaign from Sept.11 to Oct.2 with focus primarily on avoiding single-use plastics or reusing/ recycling plastic in Railway Offices, on-board trains and in the periphery of Railway Stations.

On the opening day of the campaign held in the premises of Divisional Office in Mysuru, Aparna Garg, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Mysuru Division, administered the Swachhta pledge to Railway Officers/ staff, safai karmacharis, licenced coolie porters, Cadets of Bharat Scouts and Guides and students of Lalitha Railway School. 

Addressing the gathering, the DRM said that Mysuru Division would undertake a massive Shramdaan across the Division with focus on plastic waste segregation collection. All plastic waste collected shall be disposed of to the collection points notified by the Ministry of Jalshakti.

In the period from Sept.11 to Oct.2, a total of 4 nurseries will also be developed in the premises of important Stations of Mysuru Division such as Mysuru, Hassan, Arsikere and Mysuru New Goods Terminal, she informed.

Aparna Garg called upon all the Railway Staff to strive hard and contribute significantly to realising a plastic-free environment in trains, offices and other Railway areas and to keep a circle of cleanliness in everyday life.

She underscored the point that there should be no mismatch between our thoughts and actions as the nation gears up to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in the year 2020.

Later, a walkathon by Railway staff holding banners and placards was organised from the Divisional Railway Manager’s Office to Mysuru Railway Station passing through Irwin Road creating awareness among rail-users on the perils of  single-use plastic.

During the interaction of Railway officials with passengers, cloth bags were distributed to the passengers who were in possession of plastic bags.

Meanwhile, the Railways have issued strict instruction to all catering stalls in Railway Stations to completely do away with single-use plastics.