KOLKATA: As part of the ‘Porishkar Kolkata’ campaign, an extension of the Clean City-Green City initiative of the West Bengal government, more than 50 colourful bins and vats were distributed among hawkers at the Camac Street section in Kolkata.

Students, businessmen and citizens initiated a unique cleaning drive by educating street vendors and hawkers about keeping the city spic-and-span and distributed garbage bins to help them out. Not only this, school children carried placards to involve the people and generate awareness.

“Though there is a lot of buzz on cleanliness and hygiene, there is a lack of awareness on an individual basis, especially among communities such as the hawkers. We are educating them on the basics and making sure they also ensure their customers keep the surrounding area clean,” said Rotary Club of Calcutta Midtown president Bhupesh Kapoor.

Organised in collaboration with Indian steel producing giant Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and the active support of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), the Rotary Club of Calcutta Midtown aims to roll out more such programmes in phases, targeting various zones and communities.

Street vendors were also taught proper ways to dispose waste. As part of Swach Bharat initiative many state governments and other organizations have decided to embark on the cleanliness awareness drive after the campaign was announced by the BJP-led government last year.