Several college students and local residents took part in the 16th shramdan held in Mannagudda and Gandhinagar on Sunday. It was part of the last phase of Ramakrishna Mission’s five-year Swachhta Abhiyan in the city.

As many as four teams of volunteers took part in the shramdan held between 7.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m.

The first team — comprising of NSS students from Karnataka Polytechnic — cleaned the footpath and cleared garbage dumped in the drain on the road leading to Urwa Market. Another team cleared garbage dumped at several points on the road. Students from Besant College removed overgrown weeds by the side of Mathadakani Road. Another team of volunteers cleaned the Pentland Pet Circle and also Gandhinagar Road. Volunteers gave a fresh coat of paint to the nameboards of Gandhinagar 7th Cross, Mathadakani Road and Gandhinagar Road.

Students of Nitte Physiotherapy College went to houses in Gandhinagar and distributed handbills related to the Swachhta Abhiyan.

The Ramakrisha Mutt held a Jan Sampark Abhiyan on Sunday to distribute pots for wet waste management. Of the 3,000 people who registered, the mutt has so far distributed pots to 700 households.

As part of the Swachh Soch initiative of the Ramakrishna Mission, the 49th Swachh Soch seminar was held at the Srinivasa Institute of Technology on March 21. Rahul T.G. and Ranjan Bellarpady organised an interactive session with students. The 50th seminar was held at the Sahyadri College of Management and Engineering on March 27.