Cleanliness becomes a way of life when all join hands together: Suresh Gopi

The Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism, Suresh Gopi, participates in the Swatchhata Pakhwada 2026, jointly organised by the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) and Ramakrishna Math in Mangaluru on Monday.

The Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism, Suresh Gopi, has said that cleanliness becomes a collective behaviour when institutions, volunteers, students, citizens and spiritual organizations come together.Inaugurating the Swatchhata Pakhwada 2026, jointly organised by the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) and Ramakrishna Math in Mangaluru on Monday, he appreciated MRPL for taking this initiative in association with Ramakrishna Math. MRPL’s participation in such community-oriented programmes reflects its commitment not only to industry and development, but also to society and the environment.Stating that Ramakrishna Math has made a remarkable contribution to civic awareness in Mangaluru through its sustained cleanliness initiatives, he said: “When institutions, volunteers, students, citizens and spiritual organizations come together, cleanliness becomes more than an activity. It becomes a collective behaviour. Swachh Bharat is closely linked with health, dignity, tourism, environment and national pride. A clean street, a clean public place, a clean workplace and a clean city create confidence and respect. They also show our responsibility towards future generations.”Vital roleMentioning that the oil and gas sector plays a vital role in powering the nation, he said: “At the same time, our responsibility must extend beyond energy security to environmental care, waste reduction, community welfare, and sustainable development. I am happy to see MRPL carrying forward this spirit through today’s initiative.”While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed Swachh Bharat into a people’s movement, the real strength of Swachh Bharat lies in ‘Jan Bhagidari’ (people’s participation). Government can guide, organisations can support, but lasting change will come only when every citizen takes ownership, he said.On his participation in the Mangaluru event, he said it is not merely a symbolic activity. It is a reminder that cleanliness is a public duty, a civic value, and a shared responsibility, he added.Capt Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, and senior executives from MRPL attended the event.-Published on July 6, 2026