The dwellers of the slum colonies near Kukrail Nala in Lucknow have been given sanitation and cleanliness tips by Rishikesh-based ascetic Swami Chidanand Saraswati to mark the Global Hand Washing Day on Monday. As many as 400 families which reside in Lavkush Nagar and Indira Nagar in the capital of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh  have been made aware of the importance of washing hands with soap to keep diseases at bay.

An awareness rally has also been taken out by the people associated with Harijan Sewak Sangh on the occasion and a tree plantation has also been carried out.

Swami Chidanand also invited the slum dwellers to attend Kumbh Mela slated in Allahabad. He said, “The people living in these colonies contribute in keeping the city areas clean. They, thus, deserve respect and love from others of the city. We must remember that they are not just ‘safai karamchari’ but ‘badhai karamchari’.”

Distributing the soaps among some children and their parents, Chidanand said that the children must be taught to develop the habit of washing their hands before they eat.

In Rishikesh also, an awareness drive has been taken out by Rishi Kumars (students) of Parmarth Niketan in the slum areas. Speaking on the occasion, Sadhvi Bhagawati said, “Washing hands is a simple technique for protecting our lives from diseases. It just takes less than a minute. The results are amazing.”

Dwelling further of the importance of developing the habit of washing hands before one eats anything, she said that one million lives could be saved every year if the habit develops in one and all.

The Sadhvi, further, said that by just washing hands, 40% of cases of diarrhoea and 25% breathing-related diseases can be controlled. “Things are very simple, but their importance is immense. This is the day to pledge to develop the habit in ourselves as well as to inculcate it in others who are yet to develop it,” she said.