Nagpur : The spirit of cleanliness took center stage in Nagpur on Sunday, as citizens from all walks of life enthusiastically participated in the “Swachhata Marathon” amidst light rains. Organized as part of the “Swachhata Hi Seva” campaign under the Government of India’s fortnight of cleanliness drives, the event aimed to promote the concept of “Clean Habits, Clean Culture” among Nagpur’s residents.
Despite the early morning showers, the marathon saw participation from senior citizens, youth, students, volunteers from NGOs, and civic officials, all coming together to reaffirm their commitment to making Nagpur a cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful city.
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Thursday 21 Nov. 2024
The event kicked off from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) headquarters at Civil Lines, where Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Dr. Abhijit Chaudhari, District Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar, Additional Commissioner Mrs. Anchal Goyal, and Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr. Nimit Goyal flagged off the marathon.
Key civic leaders, including Deputy Commissioners Milind Meshram, Prakash Varade, and Ganesh Rathod, along with the head of waste management Dr. Gajendra Mahalle, were present. The event also saw participation from various notable individuals including Dr. Anushree Abhijit Chaudhari, Railway Officer Mr. Kashinath Patil, Green Vigil Foundation’s Kaustubh Chatterjee, and Tejaswini Mahila Manch’s Kiran Mundada, alongside ex-servicemen, fire department personnel, and local police cadets.
The 5-kilometer marathon was completed by hundreds of enthusiastic runners, including Commissioner Dr. Abhijit Chaudhari and his wife, Dr. Anushree Chaudhari. The event also featured a lively Zumba session led by Pawan Mangoli and his team, who energized the crowd before the marathon started.
As the participants set off amid cheers of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and the sounds of thunder, the rain only added to the excitement. The marathon passed through several notable locations, including Vidhan Bhavan Square, Ladies Club Square, and Japanese Garden, before concluding at the NMC headquarters. The first 150 runners to finish the race were awarded badges, and prizes were distributed to the top performers.
Commissioner Dr. Chaudhari thanked the participants for their active involvement in the cleanliness drive and encouraged the citizens to continue their efforts towards keeping Nagpur clean and beautiful. Additional Commissioner Mrs. Anchal Goyal urged everyone to adopt cleanliness as a lifestyle and fulfill their duties as responsible citizens.
**Winners of the Marathon**
In the men’s category, Gaurav Khodtkar took first place by completing the race in just 14 minutes and 50 seconds. He was followed by Pranay Mahole, who finished in 15 minutes and 12 seconds, and Ajit Bende from AD College, who secured the third spot. The youngest participant, 13-month-old Maithili Lanjewar, was recognized for her participation, and 7-year-old Swarup Bhatt won the award for the youngest runner. Seventy-five-year-old Doma Chafle, a senior runner, was celebrated for promoting the message of cleanliness and a healthy lifestyle.
Special prizes were also awarded to the Takone family for their group participation, and the RPTS team won the group category. The marathon ended with a renewed sense of commitment among the citizens of Nagpur to uphold the values of cleanliness and civic responsibility.
