Teen on a mission to clean up the Mumbai

Inspired by the ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sidharth Runwal, a 17-year-old student of  B.D.Somani International School is on a mission to improve the quality of life of ragpickers and garbage cleaners in Mumbai through his non-profit organisation Clean-Up Foundation.

The NGO aims to achieve the objective through various activities targeted at improving and enhancing the hygiene and sanitation factors around those who help in cleaning up the city but themselves live in appalling conditions.

Runawal said, “The first step towards improving the quality of life for the garbage cleaners of Mumbai is to provide them with clean drinking water. It is ironic that the people who clean the city every day live in such deplorable conditions.” He added that as per the BMC report, the average garbage cleaner does not live for over 40 years. “They do not have access to fundamental necessities such as potable water that are essential for survival,” he added.

“The Clean-Up Foundation installed water purifiers at multiple Chowkis across Bandra, Khar and Santa Cruz under the H/West Ward Office. This initiative ensured clean drinking water is available for over 12,000 garbage cleaners in Mumbai,” said Runawal.

AWARD-WINNING WORK

• Sidharth Runwal was felicitated by Ministry of Environment, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, BMC and Bhamla Foundation on World Environment Day for his efforts