Published On: August 30, 2018 09:19 AM NPT By: Sangita Shrestha

Nepal’s Cleanup crusaders

Nepal’s Cleanup crusaders

Is it possible for a single person to clean the world? If yes, how is it possible, and for how long? 
Questions like these pop into our minds when we think about cleaning the world. 

Is it possible for a single person to clean the world? If yes, how is it possible, and for how long? Questions like these pop into our minds when we think about cleaning the world. However, 53-year-old Raj Man Manav, and his professional counterpart Sushila Maharjan, 43, have set on a mission to clean, not only their locality but the whole world since early 2011. Sounds impractical! Yet, with the tagline, ‘Who does it if I don’t?’, the duo have ventured to take on the seemingly impossible challenges. 

Their social initiative has not only garnered appreciation from the community, but a number of helping hands have emerged to help them attain their goal. Currently, with some volunteers, they can be seen cleaning around Kathmandu Municipality. The current project is scheduled to last till mid-September. 

The beginning of the mission
It all began when Manav, a social worker, founded Newa Lahana – a community restaurant at Thambahal. He brought together 71 households of Kirtipur-1 to invest their effort in the Newari restaurant. But the Kirtipur Mahotsav in 2010, urged the social worker turned entrepreneur to venture out beyond Kirtipur. He started by cleaning the vicinities near the ancient city. 

However, he had bigger aspirations, he wanted to go global. To convert his dreams into reality, he assembled 5,500 women from 30 Misha Puchha (women's group) in Kirtipur, and cleaned 40 ropanis of land, allocated as the dumping site. 

He shared, “During the time of Kirtipur Mahottsava, we cleaned our locality (Thambahal) and other places of Kirtipur, and the land that was being used as a dumping site. This made me believe that if we take the initiative, then we can achieve anything.”

He is dedicated to the cleaning campaign because he feels the whole world is his home. Also, he says he'll stay committed till his last breath. “It is very important to embrace a place if you want to clean it. Without the sense of ownership and commitment, one won't be able to clean their surroundings. For me, the whole world is my home.”

Every day, in an all-white uniform, he sets on his mission of cleaning his locality. Sushila Maharjan accompanies Manav donning a similar outfit. Maharjan shared the experiences of the campaign, 
stating, “I used to work in Newa Lahana in the bakery, and during the Mahotsav, we cleaned our surrounding. This act left a positive impact on our society. Being involved in the cleaning campaign, I am not just contributing to my family, but to the society as well. It is a liberating experience.” 

Volunteers of the campaign 
One of the volunteers, Ram Bhakta Maharjan, from Kirtipur, stated, “I’ve been a part of the project since its advent.” Explaining the changes in the community, he added, “The locals of my community are more aware of cleanliness, and are responsible for the waste they produce. Before, the locality depended entirely on the municipality for waste management. Now, we are independent and we take care of our own garbage.”

Likewise, another volunteer, Lalita Maharjan – the manager at Newa Lahana – informed, “A clean environment opens doors for peace, and happiness. Cleanliness is crucial for the development of the country; the government should take charge of waste management.” The project sees a large participation, from ages eight to 75, to volunteer in the campaign.

Challenges and being around the world
This duo of Manav and Maharjan is not only involved inside the country, but their mission has crossed borders to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan as well. They are also planning to visit African nations with the same intent. 

“Where there is a will, there is a way. So far, I have been solely investing, and will continue to do so. In the past nine years, I’ve already spent about thirteen million five hundred thousand rupees,” stated Manav. "We carry our tent if we need to spend more than one day at one location. We sleep where ever the community asks us to, and eat whatever the community offers us. No one is funding us -- neither individuals nor organizations. We are just passionate about cleaning.” 

Speaking about waste management crisis in Kathmandu, he explained, “The main problem is that we blame each other, and are not willing to bear the responsibility. If we cannot clean the surrounding, we shouldn’t litter it either. We need to stop depending entirely on the municipality, and be responsible for our litter, and manage it accordingly.”

There is a popular saying: cleanliness is next to godliness. Manav elaborated, “If you clean your surroundings, and manage your garbage, you will succeed in your life.”
 


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