Hansi: Cleanliness is realized not merely through government schemes but through public participation and inspiring leadership. A vivid example of this was witnessed on Saturday in Dhandheri village, where SDM Rajesh Khoth personally joined a cleanliness drive, picking up trash with his own hands and engaging in voluntary labor alongside the villagers. His inspiring initiative turned the entire village into an active participant in the cleanliness campaign. Under the leadership of SDM Rajesh Khoth—who has long been active in the fields of sanitation and environmental conservation—such campaigns are being continuously conducted in the sub-division with the aim of building a clean, beautiful, and green society.
The 'Mhari Hari-Bhari Hansi' (Our Green Hansi) campaign, led by SDM Rajesh Khoth, has already established a distinct identity for environmental conservation in the region. Last year, approximately 5,000 saplings were planted under this campaign, with regular care ensured for them. Carrying this vision forward, efforts are now underway to create a clean environment by conducting special cleanliness drives in every village. This year, a plantation drive has already been carried out within the premises of SD Mahila Mahavidyalaya as part of the campaign.
Five village secretaries, the village Sarpanch, Panchayat representatives, sanitation workers, and a large number of villagers participated in the special cleanliness drive held in Dhandheri village on Saturday. During the campaign, extensive cleaning was carried out across village lanes, public spaces, government buildings, community gathering spots (*chaupals*), and other key locations. A large quantity of waste was collected and transported to a designated disposal site. Following the drive, the village environment appeared completely clean and pleasant.
The most inspiring moment of the campaign occurred when SDM Rajesh Khoth himself picked up cleaning tools and began collecting trash. While engaging in voluntary labor, he supervised the loading of waste into vehicles and conveyed the message that cleanliness is not the task of a single department but the moral responsibility of every citizen. Inspired by his actions, many villagers also joined the cleanup effort, and the entire campaign transformed into a mass movement. Speaking on the occasion, SDM Rajesh Khoth remarked that clean villages and cities are the hallmark of a healthy society. He stated that if every citizen resolves to keep their home, street, and surroundings clean, any area can be transformed into a model of cleanliness. He emphasized that alongside cleanliness, environmental conservation is a critical need of the hour, and the two go hand in hand.
Urging villagers to plant and nurture as many trees as possible, he called upon every family member to plant at least one sapling annually. He noted that it is our collective responsibility to bequeath a clean environment and a green earth to future generations. The administration will continue to conduct such cleanliness and plantation drives in the future.
Villagers present at the event praised SDM Rajesh Khoth’s working style, noting that when an administrative official personally steps into the field to engage in voluntary labor (*shramdaan*), it sends a positive message to society and strengthens public trust. They pledged to participate enthusiastically in future efforts to maintain village cleanliness and conserve the environment.
During the drive, cleanliness operations were carried out at several public locations, including the Government Primary School, Government Middle School, the lane near the main *chaupal* (community gathering place), the village periphery road (*phirni*), the main square, the road known as 'Ramayan Wali Sadak,' and the banks of the village pond (*johad*). Large quantities of waste were removed from these sites, making the entire area clean and beautiful. By clearing the filth accumulated around the pond and creating a clean environment there, a message promoting both water and environmental conservation was conveyed. Several prominent citizens, including Village Sarpanch Sandeep Malik, Deepak Bansal, Sandeep Yadav, and Rakesh Khoth, were present during the campaign.