By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 17 Jun: The Purkal Youth Development Society [PYDS] clubbed its annual summer trip for 8th, 9th and 11th graders with a powerful cleanliness drive along the Kedarnath-Badrinath trail. A group of 52 children accompanied by 6 members of staff trekked close to 75 kilometres overall in the first half of June, spreading awareness and clearing the way of plastic.
They covered distances of 20 kms from Kedarnath, 6 kms from the Vasudhara Trek and 5 kms from the Chandrashila Trek, picking plastic waste from the mountains on their way downhill. Disposal sites were chosen at the base camp in Gauri Kund, Mana and Guptkashi, respectively. A 9th grader, after the tiring trek and collection drive, exclaimed, “Bas abyahan se proper jagah phikey yeh plastic!”
Seeing children take the initiative, many onlookers appreciated the effort, including some foreign tourists. All children used steel water bottles during travel and also did not purchase bottled water in the mountains.
The group also planted two deodar trees at the Youth Hostel, Badrinath.
It was an eye-opening experience for the children, many of whom themselves belong to hill districts of the state. With its work in the field of education, PYDS strongly believes in nurturing children with values and a respect for the environment around them. It urges all to join hands in this effort and help underprivileged children improve the conditions of living for their families and communities.
