STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
Kalimpong, 5 January 

Keeping the Prime Minister’ Narendra Modi’s message of Swaach Bharat Abhiyan, a group of children from the 12 mile Sherpa village area today, with a view to clear the area conducted a cleanliness drive.
The drive was special as they got 12 friends from Framingham State University, which is a public university located in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA.

The combined group today cleaned the Biasi Jhoda, a culvert near Gangotri high school.

The kids have a club, which is known as Kalimpong kids club. They are with a message to clean their village by themsleves in the winter holidays and thus took the task of cleaning.

The kids initiative got a supported of a 12 member student and teacher from Framingham State University who were led by Professor Lisa and in educational tour of Kalimpong. The under graduate students helped in clearing the culvert.

The culvert was full of plastic, cloths , bushes and other items.

 The garbage was burnt and plastic and bottles were kept aside.
In the next trip the student will be teaching the kids how to recycle non-degradable wastes product probably the coming week when another batch of student will be reaching here.

Professor Lisa said that she was impressed with the hospitality of the people of Kalimpong. She appealed to keep the environment clean to conserve the place as well as the nature. 

Jenas Lepcha, the secretary of the club, said they are more than happy to clean the whole area with their guest friends.