RAJOURI: Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma, today launched the district-wide Swachhata Hi Seva campaign under Sewa Pakhwada here from Boys Model Higher Secondary School.
More than 500 students, district officers and members of the school staff participated in the programme and took the Swachhata pledge administered by the Deputy Commissioner. The participants resolved to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings, adopt responsible waste-management practices and discourage the use of single-use plastic.
A major initiative announced during the programme was the establishment of waste-composting units in 50 Higher Secondary Schools across the district. “These units will not serve merely as waste-processing facilities, but also as practical learning centres where students will be trained in the segregation of wet and dry waste and the conversion of biodegradable waste into compost manure, he said.
Interacting with the students and faculty, the Deputy Commissioner emphasised that educational institutions and young people can play a transformative role in changing community attitudes towards sanitation and waste management. “Every student can become an ambassador of Swachhata. The habits learnt in school must travel to our homes, neighbourhoods and communities,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner underlined the need for segregation of waste at source, composting of organic waste and scientific processing and disposal of non-biodegradable waste. He urged students to lead by example and encourage their families to adopt environmentally responsible practices.
The fortnight-long campaign, being observed from September 17 to October 2, will cover both rural and urban areas of Rajouri district. It will focus on cleanliness, community participation, sustainable waste management, elimination of single-use plastic and greater civic responsibility.
The campaign will be taken forward through three broad interventions—Jan Bhagidari involving communities, youth clubs and Self-Help Groups; promotion of source segregation and composting; and intensive cleanliness drives in schools, hospitals, government offices and other public institutions.
ADDC Malikzada Sheraz-ul-Haq, Chief Education Officer Mohammad Hafiz, ACP/Sub-Registrar Mohammad Rafiq, District Youth Officer Akhil Arya and Vice Principal, BMHSS Rajouri, Fazal Hussain also attended the programme.
