Man leads cleanliness movement, inspires citywide transformation
A simple yet powerful message is slowly changing the way Hoshiarpurians view cleanliness, thanks to Rajinder Singh Hargarhia, a determined social worker on a mission to make his city cleaner, one spot at a time. For the past six years, Rajinder has been standing at garbage sites, holding a placard and urging the authorities to take action.
What began as a solitary protest has now evolved into a wider movement, inspiring residents, students, and even government officials to take responsibility for the cleanliness of the city. “When I first started, I knew I couldn’t clean the entire city alone, but I believed that by standing at the most littered spots, I could force people to see what was wrong,” says Rajinder, 50.
His strategy has proved effective. “Locations once notorious for piles of garbage, like Naloian Chowk, the Phagwara Road railway crossing, and areas near Government College, have seen real change. I didn’t clean these spots myself. I just stood there, holding a placard that read, ‘Let’s make Hoshiarpur the most beautiful place.’ The authorities were forced to take notice,” he explains. Over time, those very spots became cleaner and greener, as local officials were compelled to act.
Rajinder’s efforts have garnered praise from various quarters, including Minister for Local Government Ravjot Singh, philanthropist S P Singh Oberoi, and numerous NGOs. The district administration and the Punjab government have also recognized his persistence, and formal plans for a collaboration to bring about further widespread change in Hoshiarpur are now in progress.
“It’s not about me. It’s about getting people to think differently and take responsibility for their surroundings,” he says.
Rajinder’s influence has grown steadily, and now, when garbage problems arise in the city, residents often turn to him rather than the municipal corporation. He attributes the inspiration for his mission to friends abroad who often spoke of the cleanliness they witnessed in foreign cities.
“That was the turning point for me,” Rajinder recalls. “I realised we could have that too, but only if we changed the way we thought about our environment.” In addition to his cleanliness campaign, Rajinder is also organising blood donation camps and motivating youth to contribute to society. However, his ultimate goal remains clear: to make Hoshiarpur the cleanest city in India.
“I won’t stop until we see that happen. This is about more than cleanliness – it’s about changing attitudes and creating a city we can all be proud of,” he says.
