Anantnag: To maintain hygiene and preserve local beauty, residents of Panzath village in the Qazigund area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district have launched a self-help cleanliness drive.
The villagers have hired a tractor and a loudspeaker to spread awareness as part of the initiative. Panzath, famously known as the “Village of 500 Springs,” is renowned for its natural water sources and scenic charm.
The drive, which began on Tuesday morning, is a community-led effort aimed at keeping the village clean and preserving its water sources for future generations. Under the initiative, villagers have arranged a tractor that moves through Panzath village to collect household waste.
Residents deposit their garbage into the tractor, which later carries it to a distant location for disposal. In the absence of a municipal waste collection system in these rural areas, the people of Panzath have taken the task upon themselves.
Manzoor Malik, a local, thanked everyone for supporting the initiative. “We will begin a tractor service to collect garbage from the village and dispose of it in a remote area. The youth of the village have worked hard, collected funds, and hired a tractor on their own. Waste collection and disposal will be carried out every week,” he told.
When asked whether other villages should follow this example, Malik said, “Exactly. This is the need of the hour. Every village should take such an initiative because municipalities or block offices cannot reach everywhere. As the saying goes, if a person does not help himself, even God does not help him. We must first help ourselves.”
“This is a self-help initiative. Every household has contributed Rs 100 toward the cause. We made the initial payment for a microphone, banner, and other materials. A monthly contribution of Rs 100 per household has been fixed, which is minimal. If we can get such a valuable service for that amount, it deserves encouragement,” he added.
Another local, Ashiq Hussain Rather, said, “The name of this campaign is Al-Tahara, an Arabic word meaning cleanliness. Al-Tahara is essentially a cleanliness mission. Since the government cannot reach every street, we decided to start this on our own. Panzath village has a rich history, and we are continuing the legacy of our elders, who always valued cleanliness.”
He added, “The mission has just started, but in reality, the concept of cleanliness has existed in our village for decades. Our rivers and drains are being cleaned, and the fish festival here is famous. Through this initiative, we aim to remove garbage from every house and dispose of it safely outside the village. We want to set an example for other villages and regions so that our surroundings remain clean and disease-free.”
Rather said the initiative is being run by the youth under the guidance of our elders. He expressed hope that this campaign reaches every street and corner of the country. “God willing, the entire nation will be freed from filth and pollution,” he said.
Commenting on the public response, he said people have shown great enthusiasm and support. “We have also put up a religious flag, as cleanliness is part of our faith. With continued participation, we hope this initiative inspires neighbouring villages to begin similar efforts,” he said.
Mushtaq Ahmad, another villager, said, “This campaign has been started because Panzath is known for its 500 springs. Earlier, women used to collect garbage themselves and faced many difficulties. Now, we have decided to use a tractor for waste collection. Each household contributes around Rs 50–100 to cover fuel and other expenses. This will help maintain cleanliness in the village, especially keeping our springs, roads, and courtyards clean.”
This is not a government programme but an initiative taken entirely by the villagers themselves, he said, adding that it will greatly improve hygiene in every household.
When asked about the arrangements, Ahmad said, “Everyone contributed wholeheartedly, and we are thankful to all who supported us.”
He also touched upon environmental concerns, saying, “We have witnessed several cloudbursts recently — pollution and global warming could be among the causes. Pollution is a major factor, and we must reduce it wherever possible.”—(KNO)
