Minister of State for Transport and, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Sunil Kumar Sharma, Monday, stressed on the need to evolve a society based on moral values where individuals voluntarily submit to the civic standards for cleanliness and hygiene.“There is need to change the mind set and create awareness along with the creation of civic infrastructure because one cannot make people to shun ill practice by using force” he added while addressing a seminar on Swachhta Bharat Abhiyan, here at Jammu University today.The seminar on the topic of “Role of regional media and community mobilization for success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” was organized by Directorate of Field Publicity, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, JK Region, in collaboration with Department of Students Welfare, University of Jammu at Brigadier Rajinder Singh Auditorium, Jammu University, here today.The Minister was the chief guest while as Vice-Chancellor of University of Jammu Prof. R. D. Sharma and Vice-Chancellor, Central University, Jammu, Prof. Ashok Aima were guests of honour on the occasion.
Director Information and Public Relations Muneer-ul-Islam, Director Rural Development Department Jammu, R. K. Bhat, Deputy Director News Doordarshan Kandra Jammu, Sanjit Khajuria, Deputy Director Directorate of Field Publicity GOI Neha Jalali, Scientist, Statist Pollution Control Board Miss Anuradha, President Press Club Jammu Ashwani Kumar, Senior journalist Tarun Upadhyay, Bureau Chief Times Now Pardeep Dutta, various Faculty members of Jammu University also spoke on the topic.The Minister said that regional media played yeoman’s role in making Swatchh Bharat Campaign a success in the State. He said that Prime Minister has given slogan of Swatchhta, the media has played its role and it is now turn of common masses to change their mind set. He said imbibing moral values is key to every success, adding that it will change our mind set and will become responsible citizen of the nation.Sunil Sharma said that keeping our surroundings neat and clean is the responsibility of every individual. “It is moral duty of every one to think over Swatchhta which is concern of one and all” said the Minster.
Highlighting the activities being carried out for making the campaign a success, the speakers said that making the State a clean and healthy place for living is the responsibility of every individual. They said that the Government can only float a scheme and making the scheme a success is responsibility of common people who are stakeholders. They said there is dire need that every citizen of State takes personal interest and participate in the ‘Swachh Bharath’ Mission.The Speakers said that too much consumption of bad quality plastic and thermo-coal material is polluting the environment which is harmful for the human lives. They sought cooperation of people to help local bodies in taking up pollution-free solid-waste management by segregating waste at source and not expecting others to clean the filth created by them.Besides senior officers of the Directorate of Field Publicity, media persons and students of Jammu University, Central University and Government Polytechnic College, Jammu, were present on the occasion.