“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed”– Mahatma Gandhi.

Environment is the source and cradle of life. Environmental destruction will affect and impact the lives of all who are in contact with the environment. And the need to protect, conserve and sustain the environment is the greatest necessity of the present world. This is the message intended to convey through cleaning Alappuzha town premises on 18^th July 2019. The programme is organized as a joint venture of Sargakshetra Changanacherry, Kerala Motor Vehicle Department, United Way Bangalore, Caritas India for the dissemination of the awareness among the public. The association of various organizations denotes the importance of the collective responsibility of the community to conserve nature.

Naleyude Nanmakkayi- Clean the City program was organized at various schools, colleges, governmental institutions, hospitals and other organizations in and around Alappuzha Town to spread awareness on environment protection. Various practices of humans like unsafe waste disposal, increased use of plastic and unsustainable development contribute to drastic climatic changes and thus resulting in manmade and natural hazards. This highlights the need for sensitizing the community on sustainable practices.

This initiative included participation of the youth and children in cleaning the Alappuzha town. About 800 students altogether from various schools and colleges like St Antony’s Girls School Pazhavangadi, S.D.V Boys School Alappuzha, S.D.V Girls School Alappuzha, St Michel’s School Thathampalli, S.B College Changanassery, S.D College Alappuzha, Carmel College Punnapra, Poorukkara B.Ed. College, St Joseph’s College Alappuzha participated in the cleaning program.

The cooperation from KSRTC, Alappuzha Municipality and Sahrudaya hospital are commendable. The event was inaugurated by Alappuzha District Collector, Dr. Adeela Abhulla at KSRTC bus station at 10:15am in the presence of enforcement RTO, P.R Suresh, were welcome speech was delivered by Sargakshetra  Director Fr. Alex Praikalam CMI and vote of thanks by Caritas India, Programme Officer  Sibi Paulose. The inaugural ceremony was populous with students and teachers from various schools and colleges, police officers and general public etc.

As part of the awareness generation on environmental protection students did the cleaning in and around their schools and assembled to conduct the signature campaign regarding the responsibility of environment conservation in their respective schools. The pledge was demonstrated as printing the arms using colors.

Along with this a letter-writing competition tilted as‘seeking sorry to the mother earth’ was introduced to the students to provoke their thought regarding their activities relating to the environment. The students were provided with all necessary tools for cleaning along with gloves and mask and also all other basic necessities like drinking water, a team for medical assistance, and also a light meal after the programme. The students who participated in the cleaning programme were treated with special considerations as the college students who volunteered were awarded a participation certificate for their valuable involvement.

The sole purpose of the programme was to create awareness and make the people feel that the waste we produce is our responsibility and the environment we live is needed to be kept clean. The program helped in creating consciousness among the youth on the importance to preserve nature and the need for practicing safe waste disposal models. The program also helped in invoking a sense of sustainable development among future generations.

The community members who watched the program and the street play were also educated on the need for adopting environmental friendly practices. This consciousness developed will definitely invoke a sense of respect and love among the children, towards the earth.