Leela Foundation Initiates Yamuna Cleaning Drive on March 21st, 2010

March 20, 2010 - PRLog -- New Delhi, March 21stth 2010: Leela Foundation, an NGO focused on activities concerning holistic good governance in India, with the cooperation of over 200 volunteers, including local residents, college students, senior citizens and others has announced a Yamuna cleaning drive on the banks of Yamuna River near Mayur Vihar, Phase I, on March 21st, 2010. Leela Foundation have been commemorating this day for the past 5 years by cleaning trash from Yamuna.

Mr. Girish Chaudhry, CEO of Leela Foundation said "We hope to raise 1000 volunteers in the next 3 years, who would be called Yamuna soldiers. These volunteers would take up the mass contact program to sensitize people to keep Yamuna clean. A paradigm shift from government’s responsibility to citizen’s responsibility." Mr. Chaudhry has been actively campaigning for clean Yamuna drive by organizing national & International seminars and conferences at different places in the northern region, The one being in the recent past titled “Clean up Options & strategies."

On this day, the volunteers will assemble at Mayur Vihar, Phase I, Metro Station 10:00 am and exactly after half an hour will march towards the actual destination. The 3 hour cleanup process will start at 10:30 am. At the end of event, participating volunteers will be awarded with Certificates of Participation. The event will conclude at 3:00 p.m.

While the volunteers would be cleaning the garbage on the river, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will be disposing the garbage off. Special arrangements, including rescue guards, first aid, special gloves and masks have already been made to ensure the safety of all volunteers.

According to the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD; New Delhi), the federal agency responsible for cleanup efforts in India, "The stretch between two barrages in Delhi is only 2% of its catchment area, but it contributes about 80% of the river’s total pollution load. More than 57 million people depend on the Yamuna River for drinking water, but at least 720 mld (190 mgd) of waste water entering the river is untreated. About 2000 million litres of sewage is pumped into the river from Delhi every day, and its water is now unfit to support any life."

“Delhi is our city, and the state of river Yamuna that flows through it, is deteriorating. Acting as concerned and well educated citizens, people of Delhi especially the youth, who are the future should awaken to this grim reality and taking the onus of improving its condition in their hands," said Gaurav Khurana, President, Leela Foundation.  

This is why the volunteers have also taken up the responsibility of spreading awareness among slum inhabitants. They will be educating the slum dwellers about "how important is it to keep the river clean and tidy."

About Yamuna Manthan
Yamuna Manthan, an initiative of the Leela Foundation aspires to stir up youth energy for a cause worthy of all attention — a cleaner Yamuna. This Yamuna cleaning drive, being carried out a day prior to World Water Day, is Leela Foundation’s contribution to ensure a cleaner environment and to spread awareness about our duties towards our water bodies.  

Leela Foundation has been commemorating this day for the past 5 years by cleaning trash from Yamuna. Mr. Girish Chaudhry, CEO of Leela Foundation has been actively campaigning for clean Yamuna drive by organizing national & International seminars and conferences at different places in the northern region, the one being in the recent past titled “Clean up Options & Strategies"

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Leela Foundation is a citizen’s movement that was initiated almost a year ago by few young professionals who decided to come together to act and make India a well governed nation. Leela Foundation has a vision of making its agenda as people led. It intends to create a chain of citizens who have always wanted to contribute towards nation building and good governance but never found the right medium to give vent to their noble thoughts.

Our mission is to undertake causes to bring in the necessary change in the democratic process and governance of this country. 'DecideIndia' is a precious gift in the form of a slogan that has been presented to the citizens of our country by Leela Foundation. Empowering every individual to contribute effectively will be the cornerstone in this endeavor.