West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul hails cleanliness campaign in Kolkata ahead of proposed PM's visit
Bidhannagar, June 17
A city-wide cleaniness drive is underway in Kolkata ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Kolkata, said BJP leader and West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, Paul said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Bengal on West Bengal Day. We are going to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21st. For this, we have taken up a major cleanliness drive for 6 days. In this, we, including school students, the elderly, and the general public, are taking a drive to keep places like temples, roads, river banks, everywhere, and parks clean."
Emphasising the importance of both physical health and hygiene, the minister stated she plans to propose that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari mandate the first half-hour of the school day be dedicated to yoga.
"Yoga is not a subject for just one day, and cleanliness is also not a subject for just one day. We will try to take permission from the honourable Chief Minister so that whenever children enter school, they will give the first half hour to yoga and then to studies. Because doing yoga increases your concentration; your mental health, which is a very, very important aspect of mental health; and physical health. And they are our future; these children will run our West Bengal," she said.
Earlier in the day, CM Suvendu Adhikari participated in the 'Swachhata Se Swagat' campaign at the Mayer Ghat in Kolkata alongside Agnimitra Paul and other officials.
In a show of support to the campaign, Adhikari was seen personally picking up a broom to sweep the stairs of Mayer Ghat, actively participating in the cleanliness drive.
Addressing reporters during the campaign, Adhikari emphasised that the event was part of a larger, ongoing effort to welcome the Prime Minister to the state.
"The West Bengal government, the Kolkata Corporation, and all of us welcome the Prime Minister. Full preparations are underway for this," Adhikari stated.
West Bengal MLA Piyush Kanodia also announcents are going on to spread awareness about the yoga and fitness.
He told ANI, "Announcements have been made across the state to spread awareness, urging children and adults to practise yoga and fitness. Alongside this, the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Bangla initiatives are being followed to improve Bengal's sanitation."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Yoga in schools is a brilliant idea! Children today are glued to phones and have terrible posture. If this becomes a daily practice, it'll help them physically and mentally. Kudos to the minister for thinking about the future generation. 🙏
Swachhata Se Swagat - nice slogan, but actions speak louder. CM Adhikari sweeping stairs is a good photo op, but will this cleanliness last after the PM leaves? We've seen this pattern before. Temporary drives don't solve Bengal's waste management problems.
As a Kolkata resident, I'm happy to see the city getting cleaned up. But why must everything be political? Can't we just appreciate a clean city and yoga for children without making it about party politics? Let's keep Bengal clean for our own sake. 🌸
International Yoga Day is a great initiative, but dedicating half the school day to yoga sounds excessive. Children already have packed schedules. Maybe 15-20 minutes would be more practical. Still, good intention overall. Let's see how it's implemented.
Honestly, I'm just relieved to see some constructive work happening. Bengal has so much potential - beautiful river banks, historic temples, vibrant culture. If the government maintains cleanliness year-round, it would boost tourism and public health. Hope this isn't just for show.
Respect to the school children and elderly participating! But I wish the focus was also on proper waste segregation and recycling, not just sweeping streets. We need systemic change, not just temporary cleanliness drives. Still,
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.