Navi Mumbai: In a progressive step towards inclusive civic participation, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has actively involved transgender citizens in its cleanliness and hygiene awareness drive under the central government’s ongoing ‘Safai Apnao – Bimari Bhagao’ campaign. The initiative, aimed at encouraging public participation in sanitation efforts, saw enthusiastic involvement from members of the transgender community in the Vashi division.
Organized in collaboration with the NGO Let’s Celebrate Fitness (LCF), the campaign was conducted under the supervision of Vashi Assistant Commissioner Sukhdev Yedve and Sanitation Officer Jayashree Adhal. Guided by the NGO’s head Richa Samit, transgender volunteers visited the fruit and vegetable market in Sector 9, Vashi, where they distributed awareness pamphlets and engaged with vendors on waste segregation and responsible disposal of organic waste. Vendors were also urged to avoid using plastic bags and to promote the use of cloth bags among customers.
In a parallel activity, some participants held placards at busy intersections in Sector 9 and 16, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, to raise awareness among commuters about banning single-use plastics and the importance of waste classification. The messages were delivered to motorists waiting at signals, drawing attention to the broader objectives of the cleanliness drive.
As part of the anti-plastic enforcement in Vashi, a vendor was fined Rs 5,000 for using banned plastic. Additionally, three vendors were each fined Rs 250 for littering in public spaces.
In the Koparkhairane division, similar enforcement efforts were carried out in the MIDC area by a special anti-plastic squad under Assistant Commissioner Bharat Dhandhe and Sanitation Officer Rajusingh Chavan. Bhaskar Dairy was fined Rs 5,000 for possession of single-use plastic materials.
The cleanliness awareness campaign is being implemented across Navi Mumbai under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde and the supervision of Additional Municipal Commissioner Sunil Pawar. The Solid Waste Management Department, led by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Ajay Gadade and Officer Smita Kale, initiated the activity. "The idea was to ensureh widespread community engagement, with significant participation from women, senior citizens, and now, transgender citizens—marking a milestone in inclusive urban governance and public health promotion," AMC Sunil Pawar said.
