Much before Swachh Bharat, there was B. Kantharajaiah's 'Clean Tumakuru'. But Kantharaja iah's is no clarion call to others, he simply goes about it himself, alone and every morning and evening, rain or sunshine.
He is no municipal pourakarmika either. Kantharajaiah, 63, retired as a Gazetted Manager in the Education department. But instead of idling about, he launched into a passionate mission to keep Tumakuru, the state's upcoming industrial and commercial hub, as clean as he singly could. He begins everyday at 5 in the morning, cleaning up his own house first.
Then he sets out into the streets. From 7 am to 11 am, he cleans up the streets in Channabasaveshwara Layout, clearing litter, removing plastic and weeds. And he returns in the evening, from 5 pm to 7 pm, taking some of that time to educate people on waste management and to tell them not to throw it all in the streets.
Not that he bothers whether they follow him or not. He is happy just being the change himself and setting an example to others. It's easy to keep one's own house, street and surroundings clean once you make up your mind that that's the way it's going to be, Kantharajaiah says.
His wife didn't like it one bit when he took it on himself to clean up the streets, his neighbours thought he had gone crazy, and municipal authorities have never bothered to look him up, let alone lend a helping hand. "But I expect nothing for my work except people's cooperation", Kantharajaiah says,
"People have begun to understand this. That's enough. It gives me immense satisfaction to be of a bit of service to the land in which I was born".
Kantharajaiah spends about Rs. 4,000, sometimes more, from his own monthly pension to buy gloves, petrol for his two-wheeler and other expenses, including creating awareness pamphlets and posters that he puts up, exhorting people not to dump garbage or urinate in public places.
"My mother's ideals are the driving force. I have had an ambition since childhood to do something worthwhile before I die. This is it, and I do it despite facing non-cooperation sometimes. Now, I'm satisfied that my colony is a model for other colonies to follow", he says.
Finally, Kantharajaiah's service is being recognized. Siddaramaiah, a fellow resident in his layout, says the retired government employee has given a fresh lease of life to the area. The Tumakuru Clean City Association, which came into existence recently to promote cleanliness in the city, which has been selected for the Centre's 'Smart Cities' project, has identified Kantharajaiah as an exemplar of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
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