Jaipur, Rajasthan, September 18: A cleanliness rally and award ceremony were organised at a nomadic settlement in Jaysinghpura Khor, Jaipur, on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday.
The programme was organised jointly by Ghumantu Jati Utthan Nyas, Jaipur Metropolitan, Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), New York, and the Chandra and K.K. Mehta Family Foundation, New York.
Hawa Mahal MLA Swami Balmukundacharya attended the programme as the chief guest. Sarveshwar Sharma, programme coordinator of the Ghumantu initiative, said the rally was held to promote cleanliness in homes and surrounding areas in line with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Following the rally, a team comprising representatives of RANA and the Chandra and K.K. Mehta Family Foundation visited homes in the settlement to assess cleanliness and sanitation. Women from more than 100 homes were presented cleanliness awards after their houses were found to be clean and well maintained.
Rakesh Kumar Sharma, co-regional coordinator of the Ghumantu initiative, said the awards were presented on behalf of RANA President Prem Bhandari and the Chandra and K.K. Mehta Family Foundation. He said Bhandari has supported welfare and community development programmes in the settlement and has also assisted in organising employment fairs to help people access livelihood opportunities.
As part of the birthday celebrations, MLA Swami Balmukundacharya cut a six-foot-long cake, while 76 lamps were lit to mark the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Balmukundacharya said public office should be treated as a responsibility and referred to the contribution of Prem Bhandari towards welfare initiatives in the constituency.
Members of the nomadic community participated in the programme, which focused on cleanliness, community participation and sanitation awareness.
Mahendra Jyotishi, Govind Sharma, Ghalav Bhag Coordinator Om Shrimal, Vijay Rawat, Hindu Amrishpuri, Dr Krishna Chauhan, Devilal of the Gonda Adivasi Samaj, Krishna Singiwal and others were present on the occasion.