TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The whole of Goa got into cleanliness mode Thursday morning keeping in sync with the call for ‘Swachh Bharat – Nital Goem’.
Loads of garbage was collected from government offices, schools, hospitals, bus stands, streets corners, nullahs, footpaths and roads across the State as part of the drive.
All government offices remained open in the morning and employees turned up to clean their offices of cobwebs and clutter.
Chief Minister Manohar led the campaign by administering a cleanliness pledge at the Secretariat. Speaker Rajendra Arlekar, who also administered the “swachha” pledge to the staff of Legislative Assembly at Porvorim, exhorted the need for clean work places and clean surroundings.
Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik launched the cleanliness campaign at the Konkan Railway station at Karmali where he urged each individual to dedicate 100 hours every year in maintaining cleanliness.
Deputy Inspector General of Police K K Vyas administered ‘swachhata shapath’ to police personnel on the Police Headquarters ground followed by cleanliness drive attended by senior police officers.
All over the State, local netas and grassroots leaders joined their supporters to fan out to different places to do their bit.
In the South, Digambar Kamat-Shantaram Naik duo descended on the Aquem side of the Margao railway station with a spade and a broom.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai along with councillors Tito Cardozo and Berta Cardozo made their presence felt at the KTC bus stand in the morning.
A bitter critic of the government, Vijai said cleanliness was not a bad idea, but added that “it is important that the leaders in the government do some soul searching and cleanse their hearts and minds as well.”
School across Goa took active part in the campaign with students joining their teachers in sprucing up their classrooms and surroundings.
Headmaster Gilroy D’Souza of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour HS Cortalim said there was 100 per cent attendance. “We not only cleaned the school premises but also the surroundings,”
he said.
