Highlights
- Afroz suspended the drive on Sunday; he announced his decision on Twitter
- Afroz blames ‘abuse by goons’ & ‘administrative lethargy’ as a reason
- Hardeep Singh Puri has assured Afroz of support from the authorities
New Delhi: The Versova beach cleanup that caught the world’s attention was suspended by its spearhead Afroz Shah on Sunday. Afroz’s decision comes after he and his fellow volunteers were allegedly heckled and abused by goons during their regular cleanup drives at Versova and refusal of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the past few weeks to collect the garbage cleaned up by the volunteers. He adds, “I am sorry, I give up. I started this mission because I wanted to change the mindset of the people towards littering. If we are being abused by the people for clearing up their mess, then I have failed miserably. Secondly, what’s the point of doing beach cleanup every Saturday and Sunday, because what garbage we are clearing from one end is getting piled up at the other end? How are we supposed to fix the administrative lethargy?”
Minutes after, Afroz Shah shared this news; support poured in from all quarters.
Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri urged Afroz Shah not to give up and assured all the support for his movement, he adds,
Deeply concerned about attack on @AfrozShah1 & his volunteers by criminal elements. Took this up with @CMOMaharashtra was assured that instructions had already been issued to municipal & @MumbaiPolice authorities to give all help. This service to the nation must go on.
Deeply concerned about attack on @AfrozShah1 & his volunteers by criminal elements. Took this up with @CMOMaharashtra Was assured that instructions had already been issued to municipal & @MumbaiPolice authorities to give all help.This service to the nation must go on. pic.twitter.com/HHSrFfK5lK
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) November 21, 2017
Actor Randeep Hooda who has been continuously fighting for the swachh cause with Afroz Shah added,
When a citizen takes it upon himself to improve the country, is joined by thousands in a movement of change, @UNEP recognises him as a friend of the earth, prime minister @narendramodi acknowledges him in #MannKiBaat..he can still face such resistance??Its discouraging for us all.
When a citizen takes it upon himself to improve the country, is joined by thousands in a movement of change, @UNEP recognises him as a friend of the earth, prime minister @narendramodi acknowledges him in #MannKiBaat..he can still face such resistance??Its discouraging for us all pic.twitter.com/VoblXxuR6o
— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) November 21, 2017
Reiterating the same thoughts as Randeep Hooda, Author Kiran Manral said,
And when citizens take it on themselves to clean the city, they get harassed. Sad to read this. Afroz Shah suspends Versova clean up after 109 weeks.
Actor Ronit Roy assuring his support for the movement said,
Dear @AfrozShah1 don’t get disheartened by this event. What you’re doing is immensely greater than what these people can think of. Text me when you can talk. I’ll call you and we will Marshal our resources.
Dear @AfrozShah1 Don't get disheartened by this event. What you're doing is immensely greater than what these people can think of. Text me when you can talk. I'll call you and we will Marshal our resources. https://t.co/qRDKVjA3mF
— Ronit Bose Roy (@RonitBoseRoy) November 19, 2017
Actor Dia Mirza siad,
Don’t give up @AfrozShah1. You inspire a productive public participation that few in this country have achieved or can imagine to achieve. You have many compatriots. Especially children. With you always.
Don’t give up @AfrozShah1. You inspire a productive public participation that few in this country have achieved or can imagine to achieve. You have many compatriots. Especially children. With you always. https://t.co/c5K3JmaFo3
— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) November 20, 2017
And there were more:
#SwachhBharat needs to first clean up the streets of goons, bullies, louts
That’s the real garbage https://t.co/Wj6ws708Lw— Shruti Seth (@SethShruti) November 20, 2017
Oh No!!! @narendramodi ji pls see….how can a genuine effort at #SwachhBharat be given up like this? @AfrozShah1 you cant give up! You are an inspiration to many..I am reminded of this line from a poem-Rest if you must but Dont you quit… https://t.co/DFvMqCMavb
— richa anirudh (@richaanirudh) November 21, 2017
This is how we fail our heros. #SwachhBharat https://t.co/y3NRSX4ZyU
— Ankur Téwari (@ankurtewari) November 19, 2017
We don't make it easy for people actually doing the work in our country. These guys have been at it for weeks and the BMC can't even send their trucks to clear the garbage they collect!! @bmcmumbai how about a little support here considering this is your job in the first place. https://t.co/wYShdNF5cO
— prarthna singh (@psingh400) November 19, 2017
Beach warrior Afroz Shah started the beach cleanup journey at Versova back in 2015, since then, he has tirelessly cleaned up the beach every Saturday and Sunday for over 109 weeks. He and his volunteers have cleared approximately 9 million kilograms of trash from the Versova beach. The movement is one of the biggest citizen’s initiatives and for this Afroz has also been awarded the UN’s top environmental accolade — Champions of the Earth award. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), has also decided to replicate Afroz Shah’s Versova Model for 13 other beaches across the country.
But, the irony is that Lawyer turned Swachh Activist Afroz Shah was forced to suspend the cleanup because of he feels he has not been able to get mindset of authorities and people to change towards littering and the need to protect the oceans.
