Government school students hit streets to make Bengaluru clean by picking up city’s trash and converting it into an art and also educating litterbugs
Impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, a group of government school students has hit streets in Bengaluru with their unique campaign. Their mission is to pick up city’s trash and convert into an art. The students believe that their example should be emulated by people across the country and if done properly, then PM’s dream will come true.
The students didn’t stop at this. In fact, they have been stopping people throwing trash and surprising them by offering those gifts. In fact, it is their style of educating litterbugs who have transformed Namma Bengaluru from Garden to Garbage city.
For the last few days, a silent revolution is unfolding as Government Higher Primary School; Kurubarahalli School students are busy visiting dark spots and collecting waste. This waste is being taken to their classroom and converted into art, and gifted back to litter bugs. The students also tell the trash throwers that they should stand up to PM’s expectations from his countrymen.
Siddaramu, a sixth standard student said, “It is nauseating to walk and I was pondering what to do. How can we actually make Bengaluru beautiful and bring back its old charm. This was when we decided to do something different.
We went around the dark spots, collected trash and converted into art.” For example, wedding cards were transformed into designer car hanging, waste water bottles-pen stands, pamphlets-flower bouquets, coconut shells-toys, e-waste-designer hangings, waste paper-visiting card holders, plastic covers-artificial flowers and sticks as artificial butterflies.”
Inspired by Art of Giving
Kavya N, a seventh standard student from the same school said, “We were trained under KIIT and KISS founder Dr Achyuta Samanta’s social project-Art of Giving. So, after training, we pondered why we can’t link this project to PM’s mission. Initially, we thought of gifting roses but then decided to gift the trash back and hence worked on converting the waste into art.” Sandhya, an eighth standard student said, “When we gifted the litter bugs, they were taken by surprise. While some of them abused us, the others appreciated our efforts and promised us not to throw trash on streets. We hope at least if 10 per cent of people can realise that the waste can be minimised then it can definitely make a huge difference to Bengaluru. We have dreamt of making city beautiful and hope our new initiative will inspire others in making Namma Bengaluru a beautiful city.”
Dark spots to Bright Spots
Manjula KS, Headmistress of Government Higher Primary School, Kurubarahalli said in a programme on January 28 in Bengaluru, “The trash collection comes to a standstill in Bengaluru whenever there is a garbage crisis. Today, we have demonstrated as to how we can manage our own trash that too in an aesthetic manner.” Mamata N Swamy, alumni of GHSPC (1984-85 batch) said on the occasion, “We just showed how dark spots of Bengaluru can actually be converted into brighter spots.” Devika Rani, another alumni said, “Generally, the students learn lessons from textbooks but today, these students have taught an important lesson to the entire Bengaluru. Devika Rani added, “The GHSPC has decided to teach life learning and financially sustainable skills to Government school students and would cover other government schools in a phased manner.” Guruprasad
