CHATA

On the commemoration of 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Southern Railway has been organizing various cleanliness programmes over Stations and o­n board trains in a special drive of Swachhata-Hi- Seva that started o­n 11^th September 2019.

As part of this focused campaign, various cleanliness and awareness programmes, massive Shramadaan with focus o­n Plastic Waste Collection was held at all the Six Divisions and at various stations over Southern Railway.

Shri John Thomas, General Manager, Southern Railway participated in “Swachchata – Hi - Seva Programme” along with Senior Railway Officials, Officers and Staff, Sant Nirankari (NGO) Volunteers, Scouts and Guides and other volunteers at Dr MGR Central Railway Station  today.

General Manger and, DRM paid flower tributes  to Mahatma Gandhi at  new concourse hall of  Dr.M.G.R. Chennai Central, Gandhiji Bajans sung by Yazh Academy of Music. Later the General Manager introduced “Safai App” (Clean Rail) an innovative app of Indian Railways. This app mainly focuses o­n the passenger’s grievances and to redress the same during the journey for the benefit of rail users.

Later the General Manager unveiled the Paintings of  Mahatma Gandhi which were done by Technicians of  Chennai Division, viz., Mr. V.Ganesh and Mr.Vijay Kumar.   

As part of the awareness drive, a Flash Mob Dance Programme was conducted by Volunteers of an NGO who also created awareness o­n keeping away single use plastic in Railway Premises.  To all the volunteers gathered at the station, Shri John Thomas, General Manager. Southern Railway administered Swatchchata pledge. Shramadaan was undertaken for intensive cleaning activities at the Station’s Platform No.6 & & 7 with the help of Volunteers from Sant Nirankari Charitable Trust.

Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Chennai Division, Southern Railway has procured 6 Segways  ( Segways are modern smart movement vehicles which can be used by the RPF Personnel to move faster during emergency ) at a cost of Rs.5,16,096 under the initiative 'Enhanced mobility and enhanced visibility. Dr.M.G.R Chennai Central station has a total of 12 platforms and beat staff have to cover the entire stretch many times during a day. Segways will help in reducing the response time to any emergency and will also reduce staff fatigue thus improving efficiency. Travelling at a max speed of 14km/hr, a single charge of 3 hrs, ensures a mileage of 30kms.

During the programme, the General Manager also inspected the renovated Passenger Enquiry Cum Assistance counter at Dr. M.G.R. Chennai Central Railway Station.

Later, at Southern Railway Headquarters, all the Officers and Staff took part in the Swachchata Pledge administered by the General Manager and undertook Shramadaan cleaning activities in the office premises. Exhibits of painting competition o­n the ban of Plastic use held for the school children was arranged. The Cycle Rally started from Katpadi by  State Bharath Scouts and Guides Volunteers were greeted by General Manager o­n arrival at Southern Railway Headquarters.

 Shri John Thomas also visited the Southern Railway Track side Nursery at Chennai Egmore and appreciated the Green initiatives. Southern Railway has developed 18 such nurseries to promote Green and Clean Environment o­n the Station premises.

Shramadaan , Swatchachata Pledge, Awareness Campaigns  through  Skits, Flash Mobs were conducted at Railway Stations  over Southern Railway.

While appreciating the service of the Volunteers General Manger appeal the public to support the Railways initiatives keep the stations neat and clean.

Photo Caption : In first row first pic Shri V. K . Tripathi - Add. General Manager of Western Railway is seen administrating pledge to officers & staff of WR HQ, in second pic Hon’ble MP Shri Kirit Bhai Solanki seen doing shramdan at Ahmedabad and in third pic Hon’ble MP Shri Devu Singh Cahuhan inauguratingDEMU between Nadiad & Modasa are seen along with dignitaries. In second row, first pic Shri Devendra Kumar - Divisional Railway Manager of Vadodara Division along with staff are seen in prabaht pheri at Pratapnagar colony, in second pic Shri Shri Parmeshwar Funkwal - Divisional Railway manager of Rajkot Division along with staff at Rajkot Station in swachchta drive & in last pic students of prathmikvidyalaya are seen in prabhat pheri at Bhavnagar Para.

To commemorate the 150^thBirth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Western Railway is committed to follow Bapu’s teachings o­n cleanliness and in this direction has planned a massive cleanliness drive at all stations of Western Railway in September 2019. A Special cleanliness drive “Swachchta Hi Sewa” Pakhwada is being observed from 16^th September, 2019 to 30^thSeptember,2019 over Indian Railways with a view to ensure visible and tangible improvement in cleanliness at all its premises i.e. stations, trains, offices, colonies, workshops, maintenance, depots, hospitals etc. First day of Swachchta Pakhwada i.e. 16^th September,2019 was observed over all divisions of WR as “Swachch Awareness” Diwas. Swachchata pledge was taken by railway officers and staff of WR Head quarter at Churchgate which was administered by Shri V. K. Tripathi -Add. General Manager of Western Railway.

According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar – Chief Public Relations Officer ofWestern Railway, it has been decided to do a “MASSIVE SHRAMDAN” o­n 17^thSeptember, 2019 with main focus o­n “ COLLECTION OFPLASTIC WASTE”. The shramdaan will have participation from all railway employees, their families, railway pensioners, and all other stakeholders and self-help groups. This SHRAMADAN will be arranged at each and every station and nearby locality, approach to stations, area near tracks all over the country. In Mumbai Division, Shramdan was organized at Pali hill colony while prabhat pheri with swachhta slogans was organized at Pali Hill, Badhwar park & Valsad. Principal Railway School and Railway staff were participated prabhat pheri organized at Valsad. At Ahmedabad, Hon’ble MP Shri Kirit Bhai Solanki inaugurated various passengers amenities likelift, extension of cover shed , general class waiting room etc.at Ahmedabad and renovated retiring room etc. at Maninagar stations. He also dedicated free WiFi facility at Asarva station of Ahmedabad division.

Prabhat Pheri was organized at Paratapnagar railway colony under leadership of Shri Devendra Kumar - Divisional Railway Manager of Vadodara Division. Branch officers and railway staff including hospital staff and scout & guide cadets were participated in this rally and spread awareness about use of single use plastic. Tress plantation drive was done by DRM, Vadodara & other officers and compost made from solid waste plant, Vadodara were distributed in Pratapnagar colony.Swachhta Shapath Pledge was taken by all officers, supervisors and staffs at Electric loco shed, Vadodara. Hon’ble MP Shri Devu Singh Chauhan inaugurated train no 79463/79464 Nadiad – Modasa DEMU also done Shramdan & tree plantation at station area. Shri Parmeshwar Funkwal - Divisional Railway Manager of Rajkot Division administered Swachhta Pledge to Officers and Staff in DRM office premises at Rajkot followed by tree plantation,Prabhat Fery, Shramdaan at Rly colonies and Rajkot station.

On 17^th and 18^th September, the theme will be 'Swachh Samwad'. There will be cleanliness dialogue with public and inhouse respectively. The theme for 19^thand 20^th September, will be 'Swachh Stations' and will be marked with intensive cleanliness drives at all stations. o­n 21^st and 22^ndSeptember, the theme will be 'Swachh Railgadi wherein teams of officers/supervisors and staff in all OBHS trains will ensure cleanliness o­nboard the trains through intensive inspections. o­n 23^rd  September, the theme will be 'Swachh Parisar', wherein intensive drives will be undertaken to clean-up and improve cleanliness in Railway colonies, Retiring Rooms/Waiting Halls, Rest Houses and dormitories, etc. o­n 24^th & 25^th September, the theme will be 'Swachh Aahar' to provide clean and hygienic environment at catering units. o­n 26^th  & 27^th September, the theme will be 'Swachh Neer'where intensive inspection of all water installations including filter plants, sources of water supply, water taps for drinking water, water vending machines, water coolers at stations etc. o­n 28^thSeptember, the theme will be 'Swachh Prasadhan'. Intensive cleaning of all toilet blocks at railway stations, coaching depots, trains and surrounding areas will be undertaken.On 29^th September , the theme will be 'Swachh Competition'and o­n 30^th September, all of the activities carried out during the pakhwara will be reviewed and uploaded o­n WR's website. o­n 2^ndOctober, 'Sewa Diwas'/'Community Day', wherein the Station Masters will seek cooperation from general public, railway employees, railway colony staff, NGOs etc. not to litter the railway premises and to keep it clean, will be observed. A combined shramdaan will be organized for cleaning the station premises and its surroundings. Under Swachhta Pakhwada, through comprehensive and massive cleanliness drives, awareness o­n how to keep the premises clean and healthy, shramdaan activities, etc. will be done to attain pristine appearance of all stations across Western Railway.

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