Broom in hand, US official cleans up Kolkata streets

Kolkata:

An 11-year-old boy, Sujit Kumar, learnt the importance of keeping his city clean from US Consul-General Beth Payne on Saturday. Payne was seen cleaning up one of Kolkata’s busiest streets, where Kumar’s father Ravindra Kumar Singh runs a stall.

Armed with a broom, Payne along with members of Calcutta Cleanup Campaign, including school students and young volunteers, started from Esplanade Crossing cleaning up Lenin Sarani in central Kolkata. Curious faces thronged the sideways as they were busy removing wires and bamboos from tree tops and posters from lampposts.

“I do not know why she was cleaning the street. I think she was trying to tell us if she can, we should also come forward,” said Sujit.

The event was the part of a campaign led by Iftekhar Ahsan, who along with young volunteers, spends a morning every weekend cleaning up a street under the Calcutta Cleanup Campaign.

Students of Saifee Hall School, St Joseph’s School and former students of Birla High School for Boys have participated in the campaign.

“This is my city. I have to ensure that no one spoils our streets. People cannot always wait for local bodies to clean the streets and must come forward themselves,” said Payne.

“For the first time I cleaned a street. I feel great. I have to go for my admissions but will still manage time to clean the roads,” said Nimesh Jhawar, who cleared Class XII from Birla High for Boys this year.