Janak Cinema Complex, Janakpuri

We Mean To Clean shares experience of their Janak Cinema Complex Spotfix on January 28, 2017

Anticipating a chilly January morning, the team assembled slightly late - around 11 AM - on Saturday, the 28th at the Janak Cinema Complex, in Janakpuri - a posh, residential locality of Delhi. Although it has - like any other residential colony of Delhi - a list of problems, the most visible of them was an absence of a public hygiene consciousness. 

That became instantly clear when we noticed that the community shopping complex around the cinema hall - which was essentially the target for the day - had no dustbins installed anywhere. What it did have was filth: garbage in multiple heaps beside each of the temporary vendors that set up shop at such locations, pillars riddled with posters advertising everything under the sun. Rains the previous night had worsened the situation with the main approach road to the complex having become waterlogged. Amidst the aforementioned circumstances - work began. 

The MCD was in attendance - and its workers started the installation of dustbins at appropriate locations in the complex; the team, simultaneously, began to rid the pillars of any signs of the defacement they previously bore. The plan was to transform the pillars - about 20 or so - via painting and art, so as to create an impression of positive change in the minds of those that walk through those lanes everyday.

As is usual, we saw varied reactions from the locals that were passing by - ranging from, “achcha hai, karo karo” to “yahan Gandhi ji ki tasveerein bhi laga do” ; special plaudits are due to the workers of the shops around who joined the cause early on and worked with utter dedication throughout the day. 

Away from the tangible and visible progress we had made throughout the day, one final intangible - yet important - outcome was the beginning of a new tradition: an informal, group meeting at the end. Ideas were shared, future plans were discussed - and perhaps most importantly - each one took back with themselves more than the usual array of faces - the names, and stories as well, of people who think similarly about what can be achieved via direct citizen action.

Have a look at the pics of this spotfix on Facebook here. And please LIKE and SHARE to help us spread our cause 🙂

👉 Visit http://wmtc.org.in for more!