Swachh Vidyalaya – A Cleanliness Competition for Schools

In line with the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan launched on 2^nd Oct 2014, Rotary Club of Bombay West in association with Surajba Public Charitable Trust (a family trust of Past President Rtn.Dr.Mohanbhai Patel, Ex-Sheriff of Bombay), launched Swachh Vidyalaya, Swachh Bharat – a competition amongst identified schools in western suburbs of Mumbai in Nov 2014. Ms.Samapti Patel, Director-Youth Services, with support from officials from Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Rotarians, rotary anns, rotaractors, interactors and their moderators, made several visits to these schools from initiation of the project till August 2015 with a view to creating awareness about expected levels of cleanliness and sanitation facilities, availability of safe drinking water and importance of personal hygiene amongst students.

A 3-member jury (Shri Dattaram Karanje, Officer from MCGM H/Ward, Ms.Archana Sharma, a social activist and Ms.Rita Shroff, member of Inner Wheel Club of Bombay West who has been closely associated with Child Reach Organization) visited all the participating schools in the month of September this year to ascertain the winners amongst them.  Results of the competition was announced at the first Smt.Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Rotary Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar ceremony held at the Club’s Rotary Service Centre, Juhu Tara Road, Santacruz West on Thursday, October 01, 2015 with Dr.Mohanbhai Patel as the Chief Guest.  The event was attended by principals, teachers and select students from the participating schools. 

The winners were :

·         First Prize of Rs.51000/- was shared by Taraben Master High School, Santacruz West Municipal Primary School and Guru Harkishan High School

·         Second Prize of Rs.30000/- was shared by M.M.Pupils High School, Brihan Mumbai Municipal Khotwadi School and Rotary KDN Shruti School

·         Third Prize of Rs.21000/- was shared by Bandra Hindu Association High School, Manekji Gazdhar Primary High School and Rose Manor School

Ms.Archana Sharma, before announcing the winners, also gave her impressions of the schools she visited while judging for the competition and gave some valuable suggestions to the school management for improving their scores on cleanliness.

Addressing the audience, Dr.Mohanbhai Patel stressed the importance of inculcating cleanliness and personal hygiene habits among youngsters as they alone can influence elders in the families to bring about the much needed change.  

Earlier, President of Rotary Club of Bombay West, Rtn.Shirish Rege gave incidents from the life of Mahatma Gandhi to impress upon the students how important was ‘swachhta’ for the Father of the Nation and that every citizen of India should taken upon this responsibility to transform India into ‘Swachh Bharat’ by 2^nd October 2019 when nation would be celebrating his 150^th birth anniversary.