Dabbawalas pledge to work for Modi's clean India mission

Mumbai, Dec 25: Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move to nominate them to join the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign, the 'dabbawalas' of Mumbai said they will leave no stone unturned to make Modi's dream of clean India come true.

"When the PM of this country nominates common people like us to take part in his (clean India) campaign, it is a matter of honour for us," Raghunath Medge, head of Mumbai Dabbawala Association said.

"The team of 5,000 dabbawalas supply food to around two lakh office goers every day. We will make sure that we do our bit in helping Modiji's dream of a 'Swachh Bharat' come true," he said.

The dabbawalas will work hard to ensure that people are made aware of the dangers of littering garbage on the city's streets and in housing colonies, he said.

"The members of our association had even visited Prince Charles' wedding on his invitation. We have seen the world and hence know how beautiful cities look when they are kept clean," Medge said.

"We do not have financial backing, but if private organisations are willing to come out with pamphlets depicting the harms caused by filth, we will support it whole-heartedly and distribute it among our clients," he said.

Modi visited his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi today to mark the 'Good Governance Day' on the occasion of the 90th birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He nominated some organisations including Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Eenadu and India Today groups besides Mumbai dabbawalas, to join the 'clean India' campaign, launched by his government on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on October 2.

PTI