NDTV.com
NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth Swachh India NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth Swachh India
  • Home/
  • Environment/
  • Man Cycling To Bangladesh From Daman And Diu With Message To Shun Single-Use Plastic

Environment

Man Cycling To Bangladesh From Daman And Diu With Message To Shun Single-Use Plastic

Anil Chauhan has cycled 11,000 km from Daman and Diu to Lucknow, and aims to pedal his way to Bangladesh raising awareness about the scourge of single-use plastic
Man Cycling To Bangladesh From Daman And Diu With Message To Shun Single-Use Plastic
The cyclist, Anil Chauhan, said his mission was to stop the death of cows due to single-use plastic
Highlights
  • 35 million tonnes of plastic waste generated yearly in India: Cyclist Anil
  • Regulations strict but not effectively implemented, says Mr. Anil
  • Mr. Anil's mission is to stop the death of cows due to single-use plastic

Lucknow: Accompanied by daughters, seven-year-old Shreya and four-year-old Yukti, Anil Chauhan has cycled 11,000 km from Daman and Diu to Lucknow. He aims to pedal his way to Bangladesh raising awareness about the scourge of single-use plastic. He began his journey on January 1 and has so far traversed through Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. Along the way, he interacted with villagers and children, urging them to shun single-use plastic.

Asked why he was undertaking such an arduous journey with his two daughters, Mr. Chauhan, a widower, said his mission was to stop the death of cows due to single-use plastic.

Most of the cows in the country die by eating single-use plastic thrown in the garbage. Plastic is also one of the main reasons for diseases among cows, he said.

Also Read: Fight Against Plastic Pollution Is The Mission Of 18-year-old Climate Warrior Aditya Mukarji

Carrying just one bag and two blankets with him, Mr. Chauhan has been cycling for over seven months, resting at temples, bus stops, railway stations or dharamshalas after sundown. He said that people there give him food and water upon knowing his cause.

Mr. Chauhan also said that he gets support from school administrations, village heads and locals when he interacts with villagers and children making them aware of the havoc single-use plastic is wreaking on the planet.

People in my village in Daman and Diu made fun of me when I set out on my mission with my daughters. But I carried on as this is my duty, he said.

Watch: 23-year-old Recycles Plastic Bags & Plastic Bottles Into A Pair Of Sneakers

Asked why he took Shreya and Yukti along with him on the journey, Mr. Chauhan said his wife passed away recently and he now has only his daughters as his family.

The mission is big and the journey long. So I have brought my daughters with me.

He aims to go to Bangladesh and for that got a passport done for himself and his two daughters. He is hopeful of getting visas.

There are many restrictions on single-use plastic in the country. The regulations are strict but not effectively implemented, Mr. Chauhan claimed.

The reason is no action is taken against the unit producing single-use plastic. This trend will continue till the companies making items from single-use plastic goods are closed, he said.

According to an estimate, 35 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated every year in the country. Data shows that 3 kg of plastic waste per person is produced every year in the country. In view of the deepening pollution crisis, the Central government ordered a complete ban on the production and use of single-use plastic from July 1 this year.

Also Read: Best Out Of Waste: Indore Artist Makes Art Out Of Trash, Urges People To Reduce, Reuse And Recycle

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.

[corona_data_new]

Related Topics:
Environment Plastic Free Plastic Pollution Plastic Waste
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *