Bengaluru: Citizens once again came together Sunday for a diverse set of activities under The Times of India’s #IamBengaluru – Volunteer for Parks, presented by Multigen, in association with Kristu Jayanti University and supported by Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).The morning began with a plog run and waste segregation session at Madhavan Park in Jayanagar and Nagapura Park in Rajajinagar, organised in collaboration with Indian Ploggers Army and Youth For Seva, respectively. Volunteers across age groups collected sacks of plastic waste from the park and highlighted the importance of avoiding single-use plastics. The session ended with volunteers pledging to care for their surroundings.Following the plogging session, the volunteers headed to Kempabudhi Park, which featured plantation activities. The session organised by Adamya Chetana foundation featured an eco-lifestyle talk and planting of medicinal herbs at the park. The team together planted shankupushpa creepers, rosemary, nagadali, lemongrass, nelabasale and vishamooli. The vine plantation was carried out to protect the park’s existing native flora.Together, the activities reflected the movement’s continued focus on combining environmental action with community participation.Participants SpeakAkash Mishra, resident of Haralur: This is my first time volunteering with TOI. As we’re already seeing garbage everywhere, I wanted to do something about it. I collected all the waste materials from the park today; it even had glass from car windshields. I wanted to be involved with a group for a long time; this activity was also about educating ourselves. Earlier, even I used to throw away a lot of waste without realising it.Inchara Swami, engineering student: We covered the entire perimeter of the park today and picked up microplastics. There were many cigarette and gutka packets. It’s my third week here; I’ll continue the activity in future too. We learnt the impact of plastic on the soil and how it is damaging as it doesn’t decompose.Venkatesh Prasad, resident of SR Nagar: A huge number of our people don’t have proper civic sense; the litter here has come from all age groups. Children throw chocolate wrappers and adults throw alcohol bottles and gutka packets… I want the next generation to have better civic sense, I’m here for Gen Z.Lalriatpui Molsom, resident of Jayanagar: I always like social activities; this is the second time I’ve joined the TOI initiative. Clean parks are very important for a peaceful mind. If you cannot achieve cleanliness through advice and awareness, we can at least show others and help them understand the value of clean parks. Seeing a clean park, I feel refreshed.Dilip Kumar Mishra, resident of BTM Layout: Our environment is getting totally destroyed by population and vehicles, so definitely we have to come out of our homes; otherwise, our future will be affected. The biggest message of today’s activity is that people should take care of spaces near their homes and take responsibility. Instead of going somewhere else in the morning, we should do something for the betterment of environment and for clean oxygen near our homes.Kumaraswamy S, Adamya Chetana member: The initiative is effective; today, we planted around 10 kinds of plants around the park. The message is that as nature and human beings coexist, we should not destroy nature and should instead be part of it and restore it. We need to plant as many trees as possible because every human needs at least 700kg of oxygen every year. A healthy tree can give 100kg of oxygen in a year; for each person, there should be seven trees; but it is not the case now.
