“It all started during a morning walk when I saw an old couple practising yoga near the dam. I sat down for some fresh air but all I got was a bad smell and mosquitoes. It was because of the trash thrown around the dam. I couldn’t even sit there for a few minutes, and this dam is one of the most visited places in Karimnagar. If this is so dirty, where will we go? I decided to come the next day and clean it. It was Bhagat Singh’s birthday and I’m a huge follower of his – so what better day to start this?

However, I didn’t expect any huge support in the beginning. Back when I was in Delhi, I had a similar incident. After the bomb blasts in Mumbai, my friend and I wanted to light candles at India Gate. Many promised to come but nobody turned up. I still went ahead with my plan. So even when I started this, I knew I was going to be the only one for a couple of days. On the first day, I found a lot of trash – plastic and beer bottles, ice cream cups, diapers, plastic covers and even helmets. It was difficult but I was determined to clean it. Fortunately, a friend joined me on day two and that spread the word. It’s been about a month now and we go there every morning only to clean it up. After a week, we realised that the trash is too much and can’t be carried in our cars. We’ve requested local authorities for more bins, but they’re yet to come! As of now we have 15 bins and we try to fit as much trash in it as possible. On some days, there are 20 of us and on some, it’s just 5. But that doesn’t affect me. I’ve learnt that people do support social causes like this. All it takes is for someone to start it. I only thought, why can’t I be that someone?”

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