Make Diwali green, not smoky

When a cute child walks over to people and asks them not to burst crackers because of the ill effects they have on the environment and health, people listen. That is exactly what Savita Dutta does. All of 10, she is already a crusader on a mission. Dressed in red and green, 35 members of the NGO, VMAD (We make a difference) visited markets in Sarabha Nagar and Baba Deep Singh Chowk, two of the busiest places on Sunday evening and asked people to refrain from polluting the environment on Diwali.

Their first question to people was, "Do you burst crackers on Diwali?" Moving through the market in a pair, a green and a red, they worked to educate people about the price of mindless celebrations.

If the person approached said he will burst crackers on Diwali, the activist in red started telling him about how a recent survey suggests bursting crackers on one day of Diwali can increase pollution levels in the city by almost 30%.

"We try and make people understand how these crackers and the pollution they cause result in diseases like asthma and cancer and how giving them up will help curb problems of pollution in the city and the country. We try to convince them and make them promise they will not consider using crackers again in life", said 17-year-old Gauravdeep Singh from Dugri. For people who are already aware, members express their appreciation by presenting them with a band that reads, "Hum badlenge yug badlega", and a gift of Rs 10,000. "The currency is not real but it is simply a token of respect for people who look above their personal desire for fun and enjoyment. Through this gift we want to tell them that they have actually saved the money and the environment", said 25-year-old Jasveer Singh from Dugri.

This is not the first attempt for the NGO. According one of the members, Jaskirat, 16, "We conducted the campaign last year but we did so a day before Diwali. People had already bought crackers by then. So this time, we decided to initiate the campaign a week in advance."

Director of the NGO, Baljeet Kaur said, "We are looking forward to take the campaign further. If there is good response, children will be motivated".