The self expression and leadership programme project of V Shankar was recently discussed in City Plus of Bangalore. The project also involved an event at the Chidmaya Vidyalaya school for 1,000 children, 30 teachers at the principle which emphasized the importance of cleanliness and Bangalore and making a difference for the environment. The story is reprinted here.

A Crusader for a Safe Environment

He has a vision and a mission. He is V Shankar, who organized a project last Tuesday on the ‘Importance of cleanliness in daily life,’ with the slogan ‘Small actions make a big difference.’ And for this project he took support from the students of Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Indiranagar.

Explaining the idea behind the project, Shankar said that most people dump the garbage on the road, where people walk, or on vacant sites; they do not put it into the designated bins, nor do they hand over it to the contractors employed by the corporation. Obviously, this leads to the pollution of the environment, affecting the health of all living beings, mainly to children and weak persons.

Again, many people just dispose of food particles, napkins and diapers in the toilet and flush them out, without realizing that this causes blockage of drainage pipes, making dirty water to ooze from manholes. This also results in mix-up of stagnant water with the well or borewell water, leading to serious health problems.

All this leads to a ‘freeze situation’ as he called it: Absence of attendance by children in school due to sickness; foul smell in the atmosphere; huge civic expenses on pipeline and drainage repairs. And, of course, loss of industrial productivity.

Shopkeepers these days sell their goods wrapped in plastic bags which are not biodegradable. He suggested that instead people should carry their shopping items in their own cloth or jute bags and give plastic covers back to the supermarket for recycling. “The public must discourage the use of plastic bags,” he asserted.

Finally, roads and surrounding areas are made dirty those who take their pets out for walk. This also pollutes the atmosphere. Shankar said that he wants to address these problems to all concerned. They should help make the streets of our city the best and not the worst. “Small actions by each one of us can make a huge difference in the whole society,” he said.

“Stop dumping garbage on the road; instead put it in the designated bins. Avoid putting food waste, napkins, diapers, etc.  in the toilet. Stop using plastic bags. Take your pets for a walk to a place that does not cause nuisance to others,” he advises to the residents and the public.

Principal Rema Nandakumar  of Chinmaya Vidyalaya gave an introductory speech, in which she emphasized the need for safe environment. She told the audience, “Please support the cause; stand for the community and take action, however small, right now for a healthy life, fresh air, reduced pollution and safe environment.”