Patna, March 23: This bell doesn’t ring an alarm. If you hear it toll at Gandhi Maidan in course of Bihar Divas celebrations, rest assured someone has vowed to make the state a better place to live in.

Enthusiastic residents are thronging the historic Gandhi Maidan, the main venue of Bihar Divas celebrations, not just for fun and frolic. They are taking pledge to contribute to the development of the society. Ringing the “pledge bell” at the “Come take oath” stall, thousands have promised to save trees, respect women, not to waste water and abstain from spitting here and there.

Put up jointly by the human resource development department and the Unicef, it offers visitors 99 different pledges to choose from to mark the 99th year of the inception of the state. People are getting their pledge documented at the stall and are ringing the “pledge bell” to announce their keenness to contribute to the development of the state.

Thirty-year-old Smita Verma was among the first few to take pledge this morning. “I came here with my husband and kids. After my children took oath they insisted me to take a vow. I first thought I should not take a pledge, as I might not stick to it. But then I realised that if people like us refuse our moral responsibility to build a better society who will do it? This is our place and only we can make it better,” said Smita before taking pledge to help orphans.

Organisers of the stall said the response had been overwhelming. “It is amazing to see people of all age waiting patiently in queue for their turn to be photographed on a colourful document mentioning the oath taken by them with their name on it. Over 5,000 people, including children, women, college students and senior citizens, took oath today,” said an official of the Unicef.

Enthusiastic visitors were keen to stick to their pledges. “I live in Mumbai and will shift to Dubai shortly. I have specially come to Bihar to take part in the Bihar Divas celebrations. I have pledged to make Bihar beautiful,” said Yusuf Ali.

Deputy director of mass education B.N. Jha has vowed not to employ child labourer ever.

Mukesh Kumar, a college student, pledged not to promote casteism and communalism. Stick to it, mate!