Panchkula: Every morning, while most residents of Sector 25 go about their routine, 74-year-old retired veterinary doctor Dr Ram Kumar can often be seen on the streets with a broom, a metal rod or a cement pan in hand.For the past four years, the senior citizen has quietly taken upon himself a responsibility he believes the municipal corporation has failed to fulfil — keeping his neighbourhood clean and safe. Be it clearing clogged road gullies, filling potholes, removing garbage, or tackling sanitation-related issues, Dr Kumar has become a one-man civic force.“I have an interest in keeping my surroundings clean. Out of my passion for cleanliness, I clean the area around me and nearby places,” he says, pausing briefly from clearing a drain.The work is far from symbolic. On any given day, Dr Kumar can be found sweeping roads, unclogging drains choked with debris, or patching potholes that pose a danger to commuters. Age, he says, has never been a barrier when it comes to community service.His motivation stems partly from frustration with the state of civic maintenance in the area.“The MC is a failure in our area. Road gullies get jammed because they are not cleaned properly. Sanitation remains an issue as cleaning is irregular. Workers focus more on market areas than residential colonies,” he says. He also points to several vacant plots overrun with wild grass, which, according to residents, raise fears of snakes straying into homes or onto roads.One issue particularly disturbed him — a stretch of road that deteriorated soon after being recarpeted around a year ago. Despite repeated complaints, residents claim little action followed.With potholes growing larger and accidents becoming more likely, Dr Kumar decided not to wait any longer.Two days ago, he says, two young women riding a scooter fell on the damaged stretch. The incident reinforced his belief that immediate action was necessary.Pooling resources with a few fellow residents, he purchased repair material and got to work. Alongside other senior citizens, he spent time filling the craters that had become a hazard for motorists.“We three to four persons pooled money to buy material to repair the potholes,” he says. “The work gives me satisfaction. Rather than sitting idle or getting involved in useless talks, I am able to contribute my bit for cleanliness.”Dr Kumar’s efforts might have remained unnoticed had a passerby not stopped to record them. While travelling through the area, resident Rupesh Galhotra spotted the elderly man repairing potholes and filmed the scene.The video soon drew attention, not only for highlighting the condition of the road but also for showcasing the determination of a resident who refused to look away.“It is great to see how senior citizens are silently working while the civic body has failed to do its own job. Such people are an inspiration to others and it also highlights the MC’s apathy,” says Galhotra. “Contractors should be ashamed for building such roads, forcing old people to do the patchwork. It is commendable that samaj seva is being done by senior citizens.”For Dr Kumar, however, the mission is not about recognition. It is simply about taking ownership of the space he calls home. Armed with little more than resolve, he continues to prove that civic responsibility does not always begin in government offices — sometimes, it starts with a broom in the hands of a determined neighbour.
