The Newz Radar
MANDI: “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” says flamboyant Himachal Administrative Service (HAS) officer Oshin Sharma quoting Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi as she encourages the residents of Sandhol, a tehsil in Mandi district where she is currently posted, to participate in a cleanliness drive.
Posted as Assistant Revenue Officer-cum-Tehsildar of Sandhol, Oshin, who is also a social media influencer with lakhs of followers on various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), is on a mission to her place of posting the cleanest place in the country. On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary on January 12 (2024), a day that is celebrated as National Youth Day, she along with department officials, sanitation workers and a team of volunteers collected tonnes of garbage from the streets and drains of Sandhol. She led the initiative from the front as entered a choked drain to remove plastic and other garbage.
Speaking to The Newz Radar, Oshin said, “Several large drains built to channel rainwater from the village were filled with garbage by the locals. Witnessing the widespread filth, we have initiated the ‘Clean Sandhol Campaign’. The village has been grappling with unaddressed filth for years.”
She said Sandhol has well-established institutions like central schools, it is and various government institutions, but there is a complete neglect and ignorance in terms of cleanliness. “This prompted the thought of launching the ‘Clean Sandhol Campaign’,” she said, emphasising that cleanliness can’t be an “ongoing effort, not a one-day affair”.
She appealed to her colleagues and the local community to wholeheartedly participate in the campaign. “If we all contribute sincerely, one day Sandhol will indeed become a paradise,” she said.
The entire administrative staff of Sandhol actively participated in Oshin Sharma’s campaign. Representatives from local panchayats also played a role in it. Employees from the Water Resources and Public Works departments assisted in clearing the drains, requiring the use of JCB machines due to the extent of filth. Approximately, three trailers filled with garbage were removed and disposed of at the dumping site.
Oshin thanked the entire staff, extending appreciation to patwaris, assistants, local business associations, panchayat leaders, contractors and social workers. “We are the ones who have littered the place, it is our responsibility to clean it up. Previously, she had successfully organised similar cleanliness campaigns in Patlikuhal and Sandu Maidan (Bilaspur),” she said.
About Oshin Sharma
Oshin Sharma is an officer of the 2020 batch of the Himachal Administrative Service. She currently serves as the Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) and Tehsildar of Sandhol in Mandi district. She has gained attention for her innovative approaches to work among the masses and enjoys a significant following on social media due to her bold views on societal issues. She serves as a motivational speaker for the youth, assisting them in preparing for competitive exams through online classes.
