In line with the national campaign, ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, cleanliness drive with a motive to make public aware about clean and healthy Ladakh was carried out from Sindhu Ghat, Shey till Polo ground, Leh on August 15. 

The campaign was organized by Young Drukpa Association, Leh in collaboration with LAHDC, Leh, Druk Padma Karpo School, Ladakh Taxi Union and Tempo Traveler union, Leh.

 

A garbage disposal bag was also distributed among the commercial vehicles of Leh to make it as a one step towards keeping and maintaining clean and healthy Ladakh.

 

Dr. Sonam Dawa, CEC said, ‘The cleaning campaign is not just about doing for the sake of it rather it send across a message to understand the importance of keeping the environment clean and to contribute towards it at the individual level”. 

Highlighting various future plans for safeguarding the environment, CEC said that an audio will be installed in every commercial vehicle which will describe the fragile eco system and the need to keep it clean. Secondly, a sticker with a different message of keeping surroundings clean will be placed. 

His Eminence Thuksras Rinpoche said, “We have started the campaign from Sindhu Ghat till Leh collecting the garbage’s and also spreading the message on the importance of keeping the environment clean”.

“The vision of making whole nation clean is possible if only we start from our personal level. Everyone should understand its own responsibility to keep the environment clean and practical implication towards it will definitely bring changes”’ His Eminence added.

His Eminence said that Ladakh being a tourist destination witnesses a heavy influx of visitors every year which along with positive impacts equally contributes in polluting and deteriorating the fragile eco system. 

Talking about the garbage disposal bag initiative, His Eminence gave an example of Khardong la said, “The pass which was once covered with snow is now packed with garbage and plastic. While travelling people dump the bottles and garbage openly on their way thus to avoid this idea of garbage disposal bag was created. The garbage will be collected in the bag despite throwing openly which will later be disposed at a proper place.”

He appealed people to make proper use of the garbage bag in every vehicle for a better tomorrow.

Briefing about the day, Rinchen Wachar, President, YDA, Leh said, “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is not just about cleaning your surrounding collectively for a day and forget about it on next day. It is more like a promising day for everyone to strive in making the environment clean and healthy.”

 

He stressed upon the use of dustbin to dispose of the garbage’s as many of us have the habit of throwing up the things randomly.

Talking about making the Swachh Bharat campaign a success, Stanzin Zadsal, Ladakh Taxi Operator, Secretary said, “A place will definitely change if people start working collaboratively and take self-responsibility towards saving the environment.”

Expressing gratitude to YDA for the provision of garbage bag to every commercial vehicle, he said that we should make use of it for the specific purpose because many a times we have a habit of misusing the things. Giving the example of dust bin provided by the Municipal Committee, he said that many people use those dustbins for some other purpose which needs to be avoided. 

The cleanliness campaign will be held on every Independence Day as an annual event.  Apart from it, Young Drukpa Association has also been carrying out other activities in terms of environmental safeguard.