Chandigarh, October 2:- The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and Khadi Ashram Chandigarh organised the ‘Khadi Se Swachhata’ programme at Khadi Ashram, Sector 17, Chandigarh, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, reaffirming the collective commitment towards cleanliness, self-reliance and the values of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mayor of Chandigarh Sh. Saurabh Joshi administered the Swachhata Shapath during the programme. He was accompanied by Joint Commissioner Sh. Balbir Raj Singh, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Inderdeep Kaur, Superintending Engineer, Horticulture Sh. Pritpal Singh, Director, State Office, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Punjab & Chandigarh Dr. V. Shiva Kumar, Incharge, Khadi Ashram Chandigarh Sh. Sanjay Kumar Sharma, Sh. Sanjiv Chadha, President, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal and other prominent citizens.
Earlier, the Mayor and dignitaries paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries. They also participated in spinning on the Charkha along with artisans, highlighting the spirit of self-reliance and dignity of labour.
The Mayor also honoured Safai Sewaks and other MC employees for their achievements in various sports activities and inaugurated a special sale of Khadi products at the Ashram.
A street play titled ‘Baapu Ka Sandesh, Hamara Sankalp’, presented by renowned theatre artist Rajiv Mehta and his team, conveyed the message of cleanliness, truth, non-violence and social responsibility.
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Saurabh Joshi said that Gandhi Jayanti is an occasion to rededicate ourselves to the ideals and values of the Father of the Nation. He said Mahatma Gandhi’s message of peace, tolerance and truth continues to inspire humanity. Gandhi ji’s commitment to eliminating untouchability, illiteracy, addiction and other social evils, while empowering weaker sections, remains deeply relevant.
The Mayor said that through the Charkha, Gandhi ji promoted self-reliance and self-sufficiency, while his life and teachings upheld the dignity of labour. “On this auspicious occasion, let us resolve to follow the path of truth and non-violence and work collectively towards a cleaner, capable, empowered and prosperous India,” he said.
MC Joint Commissioner Sh. Balbir Raj Singh highlighted the importance of source segregation of waste and appealed to citizens to segregate waste at source and avoid the use of single-use plastic items, making cleanliness a shared responsibility.
