Haveri
Gandhi Jayanti and Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti will be observed meaningfully across Haveri district on October 2, with the participation of various government departments and organisations, Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr L. Nagaraj said.
Chairing a preparatory meeting at the District Administration office on Monday, Dr Nagaraj directed officials to organise programmes highlighting Mahatma Gandhi’s messages of cleanliness, dignity of labour, self-reliance and social service. He said voluntary cleanliness drives, tree planting and environmental conservation activities should form an important part of the celebrations.
Schools, colleges, government offices, gram panchayats, urban local bodies and other organisations have been asked to participate in cleanliness activities. All departments should conduct cleanliness drives on September 30 at public places, roads and areas surrounding government offices. Officials were also directed to clean office premises and ensure proper collection and scientific disposal of plastic waste.
The meeting stressed that cleanliness awareness programmes should be conducted in both rural and urban areas. Officials said the public should be encouraged to make cleanliness and service part of their daily lives. The Shramadan initiative should not remain limited to a single day but should continue as a regular programme involving the community.
Dr Nagaraj also instructed officials to organise special tree-planting and environmental conservation programmes at schools, colleges, hostels and government offices. Saplings can be obtained free of cost from the Social Forestry Department. Officials were asked to give priority to the protection and maintenance of planted trees.
He also appealed to officers and staff participating in Gandhi Jayanti programmes to wear simple white or khadi clothes to reflect Gandhi’s message of simplicity, Swadeshi and self-reliance. City Municipal Commissioner Kantaraj, Assistant Director of Kannada and Culture Department Veerayyaswamy Hiremath and district-level officials attended the meeting.