Mysuru: Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar Wednesday described pourakarmikas as “ambassadors of Swachh Bharat Mission” and credited them with helping Mysuru win clean city awards over the past few years.Speaking after inaugurating Pourakarmika Day celebrations at Kalamandir in the city, Wadiyar said infant and maternal mortality in the country had been successfully reduced following the construction of individual and community toilets by govt and other cleanliness initiatives implemented by the Union govt under Swachh Bharat Mission.Wadiyar said organisations such as World Health Organisation and Unicef had hailed the country for the reduction in infant and maternal mortality rates.Wadiyar said that as Mysuru is developing rapidly after capital city Bengaluru, civic agencies such as Mysuru city corporation, other urban local bodies and the district administration are facing serious challenges in dealing with waste dumped on either side of the outer ring road.He said there was an urgent need for the civic body to increase its pourakarmika staff and strengthen its waste disposal management mechanism as MCC will also be upgraded to Greater Mysuru City Corporation.As the development of the nation is also assessed on standards of maintenance, lifestyle and other aspects, Wadiyar said the public must cooperate and join hands with govt in cleanliness initiatives.Deputy commissioner G Lakshmikanth Reddy highlighted the contributions of health inspectors, environmental engineers, pourakarmikas and other staff involved in maintaining cleanliness. He also highlighted their contribution to Mysuru receiving accolades from PM and other dignitaries who visited the city in recent years.Reddy appreciated the role of pourakarmikas in maintaining cleanliness during Dasara festivities, when around eight to ten lakh people visit Mysuru over ten days.The DC said govt has distributed safety kits and houses and focused on the health of pourakarmikas by regularly conducting health check-up camps for them.MCC commissioner MK Savitha also hailed the role of pourakarmikas and the health protection measures for them initiated by MCC.
