New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (September 16) applauded environmentalist and lawyer Afroz Shah, the man behind world’s largest and biggest beach clean-up at Mumbai’s Versova beach, for his dedicated efforts towards Swachh Bharat Mission from past few years. PM Modi said, “My friend Afroz and his team have been diligently working towards cleanliness for a long time. We are proud of your efforts and hope you will continue to play a vital role in fulfilling Bapu’s dream of a Clean India.”
My friend Afroz and his team have been diligently working towards cleanliness for a long time.
We are proud of your efforts and hope you will continue to play a vital role in fulfilling Bapu's dream of a Clean India. @AfrozShah1 https://t.co/sBh9gNDgDQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 16, 2018
So far, Afroz Shah and his team of volunteers have been successful in removing more than 17 million kilograms of garbage from Versova Beach which is in its 152nd week of clean-up. Thanking PM Modi for the recognition, UN Environment ‘Champion of the Earth’ Afroz Shah said,
Dear @narendramodi, Bapu’s dream of Clean India is “Our life”. Bapu stood for it for life. We stand for it for life. Thank you Modiji for your invaluable leadership to connect with nature.
Currently, Afroz along with his team of volunteers are doing the clean-up on a regular basis at the beach instead of just weekends, as they normally do, because of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival which started on September 13 and will culminate after a 10-day celebration with the immersion of the idols. On Sunday, Afroz shared the clean-up activity pictures on his social media and said,
Week 152: #BeatPlasticPollution – Our celebrations of the festival is unique and lovely. We Work hard for 5 hrs in the night and 2 hrs in the morning. That’s the bare minimum we do to show our love for mother nature.
Soon after this post, PM Modi appreciated the dedication shown by Afroz Shah in pursuing their clean-up efforts.
Today, because of Afroz Shah, more than, 50,000 school and college students have been educated about ocean litter, whereas, more than 30,000 people have pledged to adopt a zero garbage and plastic policy in their lives.
Along with Afroz Shah, the Prime Minister also lauded swachh efforts of Indian Coast Guard, Central Industrial Security Force, National Cadet Corps and many others who have contributed in some way through cleanliness drives as a part of the 15-day Swachhata Hi Seva cleanliness initiative from September 15 till October 2.
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and menstrual hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollution, clean Ganga Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.
