There should not be any particular day to invest in our planet for we should protect Mother Earth every day for a better and green India. Orchids International School in association with the Mumbai Ploggers had taken an initiative to do plogging in and around Reserve Bank of India Officers Quarters, RBI Colony, Prabhadevi area on 24 April 2022 with an aim to protect the environment, promote wellness & spread awareness.
Students of Orchids International School from the age group of 10-15 participated in plogging. The event saw the participation of more than 50 students along with over 20 teachers who volunteered for the plogging drive. It began with a briefing session on sustainability and awareness of no plastic use followed by plogging drive for 45 minutes to an hour covering a stretch of 3 km. They were guided by Rashmi Singh (Plogwoman of Mumbai), Founder of Mumbai Ploggers, the Students have done plogging near the surroundings of the Reserve Bank of India Quarters, in RBI Colony, Prabhadevi, where the most important office and business hubs are located, surrounded by posh areas and luxurious residential complexes. During this activity, tons of waste has been accumulated. Children were guided and taught the importance of keeping our surroundings clean.
The activity has set a new trend in volunteering. “Unlike clean-up drives, Plogging is a unique activity that combines fitness and cleanliness in which participants collect litter while jogging. It is a self-motivating step which not only promotes Swachh Bharat (Clean India) but also Swasth Bharat (Healthy India)”
Speaking on this initiative, Mangala Koti Singhal, PR Head at Orchids International school said, "We at Orchids believe in spreading awareness about environmental cleanliness. It is very important to bring discipline among children at an early age on pertinent issues. This initiative raises awareness of recovery while improving environmental, physical, emotional, and social wellness for all. In spite of being on vacation, children with the support of their parents agreed to volunteer for a meaningful cause. It encourages them to engage with communities for such initiatives and helps them to learn that maintaining the cleanliness of your surroundings is an essential part of healthy living”
On the association for this activity, Singh, mentioned, “Pollution is one of the biggest global killers, affecting over 100 million people. Activities like this bring a sense of awareness as well as become an eye-opener to others who witness the activity along the plogging stretch. People will also spot the kind of trash that gets thrown and become more conscious. In Mumbai, the Mulund dumping ground, which is nearest to where we did this activity receives 32 per cent of Mumbai’s garbage. A large amount of single-use-waste consisting of plastic bottles, plastic paper, and Ghutka packets makes up a major percentage of trash here. It is so alarming to see this much plastic waste despite a ban imposed on plastic. The activity helped us spread awareness about the importance of protecting our ecosystem and saving our planet from man-made destruction."
According to the National Ocean Service, as much as 80 per cent of ocean pollution comes from the land. Picking up trash along the shores will not only help reduce ocean pollution, but it's also a great workout.
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