Brajesh Sharma, a resident of Morena district in Madhya Pradesh, embarked on a pan-India cycling tour on September 17, 2019 from Gandhinagar, Gujrat to raise awareness against the use of single-use plastics. After having travelled more than 32000 kms across 135 cities and seven states, he arrived in Pune yesterday. He spent his day in the city with various cyclist groups and students of the National Defense Academy.
The aim of his mission is to create awareness among children and adults alike about the harmful effects of single-use plastics. Until now, he has met and encouraged over 28 lakh children to use eco-friendly alternatives and adopt a go green lifestyle.
He has also travelled to over 7500 villages in the past 2.5 years to inform and explain to the local farmers, the benefits of organic farming. He stays among the villagers and helps them understand the hazardous nature of pesticides and how they can switch to eco-friendly methods of farming.
Sharma, who previously worked at an MNC in Georgia in the United States, says that he was inspired for his mission, “Explore India on Pedals” by PM Narendra Modi’s “Swachha Bharat Abhiyaan”.
Here’s how you can opt for eco-friendly alternatives in your daily lifestyle:
- Bamboo Toothbrush: A bamboo toothbrush has a shelf life similar to that of regular toothbrush and offers the same quality of cleaning. It is a BPA-free product and is easier to recycle.
- Menstrual Cups: Sanitary pads are non-recyclable and cause an irreparable damage to the environment. A healthier substitute is silicon based menstrual cup, which is reusable for five years, recyclable and a better option when it comes to personal hygiene.
- Steel/Clay Bottles: Consumption of PET bottles is yet another step that contributes to harming the environment. A clay bottle or a steel bottle that can be reused is a better choice.
- Paper/Cloth Bags: Usage of paper bags or cloth bags helps reduce unnecessary plastic waste by a significant percentage.
