“I once thought the environment was boring. In primary school, I would be found absentmindedly doodling or scarcely paying attention during environmental awareness classes. In other words, this is the story of my growth from being the stereotypical ignorant, environmental averse child to being the founder of an environmental campaign. It is my quest for clean air.
Early life:
In Grade 7, I was diagnosed with a type of bronchitis. While it isn’t life-threatening, every year I’ve had to use nebulisers between October-January because my airways get choked up. After that I joined the Environmental Initiative Club, and rose through the ranks and became an active voice, participating in intra- and interschool activities and projects; in high school, I was elected to the Student Council to lead Environmental Initiatives in my school.
Working on audits with the Centre for Science and Environment India, I learned how I could make my school campus more environmentally friendly and sustainable. After four years of persuasion by students, my school decided to install solar panels in almost all corners of the campus. I’ve attended several conferences on climate change as a panelist. In 2016, I was a ‘Care for Air’ Student Ambassador training to spread awareness regarding air pollution and affect change.
In 2018, On the occasion of World Environment Day, I participated in a 3-day long conference of the United Nations Environment Programme where I also appeared on a panel with the then-UNEP Director, Erik Solheim. Also, I have worked with the World Wildlife Foundation, Kids for Tigers, and Sanctuary Asia on wildlife conservation. And I got the award of prestigious Token of Appreciation by the National Tiger Conservation Authority of India.
Swachh Chetna
My project, ‘Swachh Chetna’ – a collaboration between the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation and public, private and NGO schools – was about cleanliness, plantation and awareness drives. Leading over 300 volunteers in over 3 years, we cleaned areas around metro stations across the city. And we had carried out awareness campaigns through street plays and flash mobs. We planted over 200 saplings at Metro officers’ residential colonies and outside metro stations in a bid towards mitigating air pollution.
Therefore to establish a multi-entity cooperation between a State-Central shared Government organisation like the Delhi Metro. And to sign a Memorandum of Association with various schools is particularly challenging, especially for a 17-year-old.
Social media:
There was a marked dip in my grades at one point. It was my class teacher in Grade 10. He taught me how to manage my time. And he made me understand that no matter how passionate you may be about a cause; it can’t come at the cost of academics. In other words, environmental activities weren’t particularly helpful for my social life either. For many years I heard comments like, “there goes Bhalla to straighten every blade of grass in the football field”. If anything, it only strengthened my resolve to make my mark in the world of environmental conservation.
Present-day:
Today a lot has changed, but there’s a lot that hasn’t changed. Year after year, I see and participate in similar televised debates regarding air pollution. But It’s the same in action. And unfortunately, the same 2 million deaths every year due to the snail slow action on air pollution in India. But, there are many people out there who are working day after day to bring about real change.
My latest project is to carry the Swachh Chetna model forward. And I’ve proposed it to several corporate giants and MNCs. All of which have expressed a keen interest in it. With new research proving that environmental degradation has played a large part in the emergence of the current COVID crisis, we must strengthen our determination.
It is time the world knew that the human race has turned our own planet against us. Having worked with national and international organisations, I’m looking to continue to work with like-minded individuals. So I hope you like this blog “Quest For Clean Air”, if you liked it, share it with others. For more latest updates, keep visiting Youth Connect. Thanks!
