As part of Sulabh International’s nationwide Shikhar Se Sagar Tak (From Peaks to Shores) initiative, a two-day Cleanliness and Awareness Drive was successfully organized at RK Beach, Visakhapatnam, in collaboration with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC). The programme brought together citizens, volunteers, veterans, students, and community groups in a shared commitment to environmental responsibility.
Carrying the campaign message “Your Waste, Your Responsibility,” the Visakhapatnam activities reflected the broader vision of the Shikhar Se Sagar Tak (From Peaks to Shores) initiative — connecting communities across regions to promote cleanliness, sustainability, and civic responsibility.
The city-level programme saw participation from nearly 1,000 people across multiple activities, demonstrating strong public engagement for cleanliness and environmental stewardship.
The initiative began with a Swachhata Walk & Run for Cleanliness, featuring 3 km, 5 km, and 10 km categories, with enthusiastic participation from around 300 runners and walkers across age groups. The run was flagged off by Shri M. N. Harendhira Prasad (IAS), District Collector, Visakhapatnam, in the presence of Shri Kumar Dilip, President, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation (SISSO), and Shri Pankaj Jain, Controller General, SISSO. The event was also honoured by the presence of Shri Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu, MLA, Visakhapatnam East.
Senior members of the campaign leadership, including Brigadier (Dr) R. P. Singh (Retd.), Project Director, Shikhar Se Sagar Tak, and Col. Sanjay Maharaj (Retd.), Additional Project Director, were actively present and guided the programme activities.
Representatives from the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation also participated in the launch, including Shri Palli Nallanayyar, Additional Commissioner (Public Health), Shri D. V. Ramana Murthy, Additional Commissioner (Revenue), Dr Naresh Kumar, Chief Medical Officer, GVMC, and Dr Chandra Shekhar, President, Ex-Servicemen League, Visakhapatnam, reflecting strong institutional and community support for the campaign.
To engage young minds and the wider community, the launch event featured painting and sand-sculpting competitions on the theme of Swachhata, along with educational booths and mobile exhibitions on waste management, sanitation, and hygiene awareness. Winners received gold, silver, and bronze medals, with two runners-up in each category also receiving medals, while all participants were awarded certificates of participation.
On the second day, the campaign continued with a 30-km Cyclothon for Cleanliness, where 30 cyclists travelled across the city spreading awareness about responsible waste management and sustainable living.
The programme saw the continued presence of Shri Kumar Dilip, along with Brigadier (Dr) R. P. Singh (Retd.) and Col. Sanjay Maharaj, reinforcing the leadership’s commitment to the campaign. The event was joined by Shri Palli Nallanayyar, Additional Commissioner (Public Health), GVMC, and Dr Naresh Kumar, CMO, GVMC, along with distinguished academic guests Dr S. Ramakrishna Rao, Former Vice Chancellor of Krishna University, Andhra Pradesh, and Dr M. Venkaiah, Retired Professor of Botany, Andhra University.
The Visakhapatnam programme concluded with a beach-cleaning drive at RK Beach, where over 500 participants — including veterans and their families, community members, and Sulabh volunteers — joined hands to protect the coastline and promote sustainable practices.
On this occasion, community leaders from the local fisherman community — Shri S. Jaya Kumar, Shri P. Appala Raju, and Shri Teddu Parasanna — were felicitated by Shri Kumar Dilip, acknowledging their contribution to community awareness and coastal cleanliness efforts.
We express our sincere appreciation to GVMC for their valuable support in organizing the programme, and to the people of Visakhapatnam (Vizag) for their enthusiastic participation and strong civic spirit, which made the campaign truly impactful.
Speaking during the programme, Sulabh President Shri Kumar Dilip emphasized:
“Cleanliness is not the job of a few — it is the shared duty of all of us. When every citizen takes that responsibility seriously, real change becomes possible.”
Through initiatives like the Visakhapatnam Cleanliness and Awareness Drive, the Shikhar Se Sagar Tak (From Peaks to Shores) campaign continues to connect citizens, communities, and the environment across the country, reinforcing those small individual actions — guided by the principle “Your Waste, Your Responsibility” — can lead to meaningful national change.
