Let's Do It

Delhi city produces around 8,000 MT of solid waste. If you are wondering if this is an annual figure, please hold your breath and then proceed to read the next few words : "Delhi produces 8,000 MT of solid waste DAILY". Also note that 1 MT = 1,000 kg. I do not want to even get into multuplying this figure by no. of days in a year and arriving at an annual figure, for my counting abilities are only so limited. Out of this, only 60% of the waste is collected and remaining is dumped on the Delhi roads.

However, if you are reading this, you would react in one of the following ways,

a) Oh My GOD! So much waste, we must do something about it

b) Oh My GOD! So much waste. But why should only I do something about it

c) Oh My GOD! So much waste. But even if I do my bit, how much difference is it going to make

d) Kya Farak Padta Hai yaar, kaun sa ye kooda mere ghar mein aa raha hai

If you choose 1, I can proudly say that you are amongst those few who believe in the idea of a healthy future. To them I would say, keep doing the good work friends, this is just the beginning of a journey. However, if you choose any of the remaining three options, CONGRATULATIONS because you are not alone. You are joined by millions of people across the city/country who think the same. The only thing which these people do not realize is that if all these million souls choose to think positively for the environment, their collective thoughts and the corresponding actions will reverse all the environmental impacts within a span of a few days.

Any journey however needs a captain. For the journey towards a clean city, I have certainly found one in Let's Do It Delhi initiative by Anita Bhargava and team. Lets Do It Delhi is a people's initiative and its objective is to achieve a unified action involving all the citizens of this wonderful city resulting in cleaning Delhi of its entire mess. i-dream was proud to collaborate with Lets Do It Delhi in organizing School Clean Up Day on 7 May, 2010. Students from New State Academy, Pitam Pura, Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh were amongst the 5,000 students who participated in the campaign.

The skeptics might say how much difference it would have made to the city. It may not be much when it comes to calculating the amount of waste collected but the impact in terms of sensitizing the young generation was extremely significant. Also, through these young kids, we were able to reach out to even larger number of people with the message of Litter free Delhi.

Students from Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh cleaning the school boundary

Students from New State Academy, Pitam Pura cleaning a local park

However, this is just the beginning. Over the period of the year 2010, Lets Do It Delhi will take this drive to even larger places in Delhi and involve more and more number of people. I urge all of you to take the Anti Litter Pledge by logging onto http://www.letsdoitdelhi.org/ and help make this city a world class city. Cmon, I am sure none of you wants to live in a filthy, stinky society. Go ahead and the MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.