Baripada: The district administration of Mayurbhanj district has started "Paint My Town" programme, an initiative to make the city clean and beautiful.

Volunteers from various student and senior citizen communities, having interest in visual art, have been involved in the drive.

Students have started drawing art on the walls of the town and the district administration further plans to implement the programme in other townships of the district.

District collector Surendar Kumar Meena said student volunteers were urged to come up with theme based art.

Children have drawn pictures on the environment protection, Swachh Bharat Campaign, child labour and witchcraft.

"This initiative has been undertaken to achieve multiple benefits. The problems of child labour and witchcraft are rampant in the district. The involvement of the student community will help in creating awareness," Meena said.

"We have a plan to include senior citizens in the programme. After retirement, when most of them find it difficult to spend time, it will be a good idea to engage them to creating art," he said.

For the first 20 theme based art, Rs 1,000 will be given to each individual and Rs 25,000 to a group of volunteers involved in the initiative.

"This is an opportunity for us to express our ideas and thoughts through creativity and drawing. We have been asked to draw on themes, which are meaningful for the society. We feel delighted to take part in the programme," said Sabita Hembram, a student.

With the implementation of the drive, the walls of several old government building now wear a new look.

"The initiative began about a week ago, so far, painting at nearly 20 per cent identified wall stretches have been completed," said an official.