CHENNAI: When Radhika Subramanian posted a picture of youngsters clearing garbage with their bare hands outside Sadguru Veda Patasala in West Mambalam she had no idea that it would take social media by storm .

The post, which received more than 2,300 shares on Facebook, also forced Corporation of Chennai to clean up Subramanian Street and its overflowing garbage bins.

"Due to the irresponsibility of the conservancy workers and ignorance of people who throw garbage, students have to clean this place," Subramanian posted on Facebook. "This has been going on for about eight years now. Please cooperate a bit and at least throw garbage in the bin..."

On Wednesday, a day after her Facebook post, the corporation had contractor Ramky Eanviro's workers clear garbage in the area.

The Patasala, which opened 25 years ago, has 20 boarding students who wear ochre or white robes and are preparing to become priests.

The post received several responses in support. One, by Lakshmi Narasimhan, suggested that the institution report the matter to the CM's cell and "remind the local MLA that he/she has to come back for votes" to residents.

The institution's administrators said residents dump garbage on the streets but Ramky Enviro workers only collect waste from the bins, forcing students to clean the streets.

"Garbage the street has caused a severe mosquito problem," Sadguru Veda Patasala head Balasubramaniya Ganapadigal said. "We have to carry the garbage by hand and put it in the bin."

Ganapadigal said he requested officials to relocate the bin but to no avail. "We're grateful to those who highlighted the issue on the internet," he said.

The corporation does not have a Facebook page for the public to post pictures of civic problems. It does have a 'Clean Chennai' mobile app but, as in the brick and mortar world, its officials pay no attention to complaints on it.