Rafiabad: In a remarkable display of community spirit, the youth of Rawoocha in Rafiabad took it upon themselves to clean the Tulbagh area after repeated pleas to the Rural Development Department (RDD) allegedly went unheard.
The area, once known as a popular picnic spot, had gradually turned into a dumping yard due to continuous disposal of waste by nearby residents. Frustrated by the lack of official intervention, a group of local youth mobilised resources, contributed money among themselves and carried out a large-scale cleanliness drive to restore the site.
During the drive, the volunteers removed heaps of waste material and also dug a designated pit for proper waste disposal. They appealed to residents to refrain from using the area as a dumping ground in the future and to maintain cleanliness.
Local youth stated that they had brought the issue to the notice of RDD officials multiple times, but no concrete action was taken on the ground. “The department only gave assurances, but nothing changed. Finally, we decided to act ourselves,” they said, adding that such initiatives are necessary to protect the environment and preserve community spaces.
The cleanliness drive received support from the Revenue and Police departments. Officials, including Naib Tehsildar Dangiwacha Manzoor Ahmad Koka and SHO Dangiwacha Syed Junaid Ahmad, were present on the occasion and appreciated the efforts of the youth.
Addressing the gathering, the Naib Tehsildar termed the initiative a “proud moment” and urged that similar drives should be replicated in every village to ensure proper waste management and environmental conservation.
SHO Dangiwacha Syed Junaid Ahmad also lauded the youth for their proactive role and assured full support from the police department in future initiatives. He further encouraged young people to stay away from drugs and contribute positively towards society by keeping their surroundings clean.
Senior citizens, including the village Numberdar, also participated in the programme and expressed gratitude to the supporting departments for their presence and encouragement.
Locals believe that the initiative will serve as an example for other villages to follow, highlighting the power of collective action in addressing civic issues when institutional support falls short.
