BLW Marks Gandhi Jayanti with Cleanliness Pledge, Awareness Rally and Tree Plantation
Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) observed Gandhi Jayanti on Friday with a series of programmes under Swachhata Pakhwada-2026, focusing on cleanliness, environmental conservation and public participation.
The programmes were organised under the leadership of General Manager Ashutosh Pant and coincided with the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. The activities included a cleanliness pledge, floral tributes, a cleanliness awareness rally and an extensive tree plantation drive under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
The programme began with a cleanliness pledge ceremony at the Reception Hall of the BLW Administrative Building. General Manager Ashutosh Pant administered the pledge to officers, employees, Railway Protection Force personnel, members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, Civil Defence Organisation, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Cubs and Bulbuls, and students.
Participants pledged to maintain cleanliness at their workplaces, homes and surrounding areas, remain conscious of hygiene and encourage others to adopt responsible cleanliness practices.
Following the pledge, Pant, along with officers and employees, paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Floral tributes were also paid to the statue of Lal Bahadur Shastri located in the courtyard of the Administrative Building.
The occasion highlighted Gandhi’s ideals of cleanliness, truth, non-violence and dignity of labour, as well as Shastri’s values of simplicity, dedication to duty and service to the nation.
Tree Plantation under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’
As part of its environmental initiatives, BLW organised an extensive tree plantation drive at Amrit Kanan Garden, located within the Officers’ Rest House premises. Pant and senior officers planted saplings as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
The initiative emphasised the importance of increasing green cover, maintaining ecological balance and protecting the environment for future generations. Officials also stressed that the saplings planted during the campaign would require regular care and protection to ensure their healthy growth.
The plantation programme sought to reinforce the message that environmental conservation should not remain limited to a single day or campaign but should become a continuous collective responsibility.
Cleanliness Awareness Rally
Earlier, BLW organised a cleanliness awareness rally in accordance with the directives of the Ministry of Railways under Swachhata Pakhwada-2026.
Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer Vivek Sheel flagged off the rally from the BLW Golf Course. Chief Safety Officer Jitendra Agrawal, Deputy Chief Safety Officer Palash Saxena and Public Relations Officer Rajesh Kumar were also present.
A large number of railway officers and employees, RPF personnel, members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, Civil Defence Organisation, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Cubs and Bulbuls, and students participated in the rally.
The rally proceeded from the Golf Course through Surya Sarovar, Bank of Baroda and BLW Hospital before concluding at the Administrative Building.
Participants raised slogans promoting cleanliness and environmental awareness and carried placards highlighting messages related to waste management, environmental protection and maintaining clean surroundings.
The rally conveyed the message that cleanliness requires collective participation and should form an integral part of everyday life.
Focus on Public Participation
The programmes at BLW brought together railway personnel, students and members of various organisations to promote cleanliness and environmental responsibility. The cleanliness pledge, awareness rally and plantation drive were aimed at encouraging sustained public participation in efforts to create cleaner and greener surroundings.
The central message was that achieving a healthy, clean and green India requires cleanliness to be incorporated into daily practices, along with continued efforts to protect and conserve the environment.
Principal Chief Electrical Engineer Manish Kumar, Principal Chief Materials Manager Alok Agrawal, Principal Financial Advisor Muktesh Mittal, Principal Chief Engineer Ram Janam, Principal Chief Personnel Officer Lal Ji Chaudhary, Principal Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sunil Kumar, Inspector General-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner Devraj Kumar Maurya, Chief Vigilance Officer Ankur Chandra, Deputy General Manager Sagar, Deputy Chief Personnel Officer Sameer Paul and Senior Personnel Officer Raj Kumar Gupta were among the senior officials present.
Joint Secretary of the Staff Council Pradeep Kumar Yadav, member Sushil Kumar Singh and a large number of railway employees also participated in the programmes.
