Breaking the shackles on Independence Day

[karira]

As reported by Mansi Choksi, Viju B, Hemali Chhapia of TNN in timesofindia.indiatimes.com on 16 August 2008:
Breaking the shackles on Independence Day -Mumbai-Cities-The Times of India

Breaking the shackles on Independence Day

Freedom from pollution

To celebrate India's 61st Independence Day, 33 professionals , students and homemakers tightened their helmets , hopped on to cycles and peddled 22 km from Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivli to Gateway of India to spread the message of using the eco-friendly cycle for short distances. "We must try and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions because they trap energy and make the earth warmer. By making small changes in your lifestyle, like adopting the bike as a regular means of transportation, you can help in a big way,'' says Ameya Bhagat of Round the Earth Cycling Club.

While offering juice to his heat-beaten team, he adds, "You can save travel money, find parking easily, reduce air pollution and can enjoy the weather . Also, if you're health conscious , this is also a great way of getting exercise and saving the planet, all at once,'' he says.


Freedom from illiteracy

China is our neighbour. It is also over-populated like our country. But it has made its population its strength. They have done that admitting all their children in school.'' Believe it or not, but this is an extract from an I-day speech delivered in Shantinagar , a slum in Antop Hill, on Friday after the flag hoisting ceremony. In most slum pockets around Wadala, the Independence Day message was clear-enroll your children to schools. And speeches and rallies looked up eastwards for inspiration.

Gangadhar Uttam Shinde from NGO Parivartan Shikshan Sanstha (PSS) gathered school dropouts from across slums in Wadala for the flaghoisting ceremony and then launched a rally that travelled across all the bylanes of slums there. "Doctor, engineer banna hai to dost zaroori had padhna,'' (It is essential to study if you aspire to become a doctor or an engineer) screamed children outside their own homes. In June 2006, the BMC constructed a primary school close to Shantinagar and admissions are full here. Earlier, children had to travel for 45 minutes to get to the closest civic body run school in Wadala.

A little ahead, in Sunder Kamalanagar, near Sion, the flag hoisting ceremony was followed by a talk on primary education . Here too, said Uttam Kumar, speakers pointed to the success of China and how children there were learning English . "We even felicitated children who cleared the SSC exam this year to encourage others to study,'' he said.


Freedom from ignorance

At Marine Drive, a group of civic and RTI activists got together to celebrate the use of RTI Act which had bought postive changes in the lives of ordinary people in the state. Holding flags, banners, placards and bugles the group sang, "We shall overcome, we shall overcome.. one day.. the decadance of bureaucracy and corruption.. ''

Individual citizens then narrated experiences of RTI success stories and how they battled with various government officials to procure information under the RTI Act.

"The RTI Act in the state has been a runway success as around 3.5 lakh applicants filed RTI queries last year. The Act has improved the lives of numerous people in many different ways and we hope that more and more people come forward and use the Act ,'' RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi said. City-based NGOs including Agni, BCAS Foundation, Citispace , F north ward citizens' federation, Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, Giants International , H West Ward Federation , Janhit Manch, Mahiti Adhikar Manch, Nagar, Public Concern for Governance Trust and Sahasi Padyatri participated in the event.

Freedom from garbage

The target was to attract 250 people and collect 1,000 kg of garbage from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivli but only 165 people managed to get 1,010 kg. This was Natura Outdoor Education Trusts (NOET) third IDay Trash Dash, where the idea was to have fun while making a difference.

Volunteers, including little children and senior citizens picked up brooms to ensure that the city's largest green space doesn't choke on garbage.

"We want the citizens to realise that the national park is a boon for us and we need to keep it clean,'' says Avishkar Tenvle, managing trustee of NOET.

They started sweeping at 8:30 am and covered a 6-km stretch while heading towards the Kanheri caves. The most exciting part was that the entire area was divided into five zones and at the end of each zone there laid booty with an activity or a game.

"My kids had a great time in the park even while it was raining. It's so important for city children to be exposed to the wilderness so that they realize how important it is,'' says ad guru Prahlad Kakkar, who is a trustee of the NOET.