The one-minute video features his son Arjun, who talks about how the animals of the forest would lose their natural habitat if the construction work continued.
Adopting a new approach to oppose the ongoing construction work inside Aarey Colony, a nature lover has initiated a video campaign involving his two and half-year-old son, who is seen saying, 'CM uncle, please save Aarey'.
The campaign is the brainchild of 38-year-old Jalpesh Mehta, who also runs Empower Foundation, an NGO working on environmental awareness. The one-minute video features his son Arjun, who talks about how the animals of the forest would lose their natural habitat if the construction work continued.
Mehta says that while pleas by adults seem to have fallen on deaf ears, requests from a child might not go unheard.
"Despite so many activists and NGOs coming together to save Aarey, which is the last freely accessible green lung of the city, the government seems determined to build a car shed there. It saddened me; hence I thought that may be the Chief Minister would take cognizance of a child's request," said Mehta, who also tweeted the video to the CM.
The video, parts of which have been shot in Aarey, apart from informing about the rich biodiversity of Aarey, also clarifies that the people aren't against development, but saving the environment is also crucial. Mehta has been in talks with the Aarey Conservation Group members, to collaborate and make a series of such video campaigns. "We are also planning to get our children to seek the help of the children of ministers — not only the daughter of our Chief Minister but also of other Ministers — by sending them postcards, which will request them to save Aarey forests for the future generation," he said.
Stalin D, Director, Projects, NGO Vanashakti, said that the campaign showed how every citizen was trying to do their bit to save Aarey. "At least through this campaign, the children and teenagers of Mumbai will know that they and their parents tried their best to save the forest and if there is any destruction of the green cover inside Aarey, only the government can be blamed," Mehta said.
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