Grateful to the Indian leading newspaper Dainik Jagran for giving me such a kick start ! This article focuses on my ground work in the field of environment and public health . Gratitude .

Come the festive season in India around November and the menace of Airpollution skyrockets ! While big promises are being made at Glasgow , COP26, we are struggling to catch a clean breath !

Back home the AQI is presently between 400-500 . The Central Pollution Control Board shares daily data that sends shivers down our spine ! How does one remain healthy with such high pollutants in the air ?

Health suffers , mental health too ! The state governments of four states play the blame game while Delhi NCR citizens wonder who is going to take the responsibility of solving it ? TV channels are addressing the issue in full flare . Environmentalists are loosing patience over the incompetence of the state government . Who will stop the stubble burning , do we only blame crackers burst during Diwali? The answer lies within the mysterious burning of Parali in midnight and non implementation of pollution norms for industry and construction sector . I on the other hand speak up loud and clear on behalf of my countrymen . Give us our basic right for clean air !

A serious issue can never be taken lightly . Let no authorities sideline the threat to posterity – the lack of clean air !

My talk with the women of Lions Club India was very reassuring . I was so happy that women are so aware , so conscious of the air-pollution crisis ! Each lady was interactive with a query and or remark during the session !

I addressed the causes of such high levels of air pollutants in India – who and what was creating this threat to our health . People were shocked with the number of diseases it causes in pregnant women , children and old people. This devil spares no one !

The latest policies , the role of WHO , the National Clean Air Programme were discussed . Citizen awareness and participation will surely put a lot of pressure on the people who are decision makers . We have promised to organise free health checkup camps with Lions club in the near future .

What better way to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti than meet and felicitate real Covid warriors ! Held on 2nd October this year ,2021 my NGO was part of a ceremony in Ghaziabad , Uttar Pradesh .

The Sikh community has done selfless and exceptional seva during Corona and the world knows about it . It was humbling to meet such amazing people and we realised that we did so little during the pandemic . Our tiny efforts for reaching out to lonely people , making meals or helping procure medicines or a bed in a hospital is nothing compared to what these people have done . Hats off !

To top it all , they became part of our #saynotosingleuse plastic campaign . We gave them cloth bags as part of our #noplasticbags campaign . This campaign celebrated its second year on 2nd Oct . We feel blessed to meet such amazing people on our journey for a better cleaner planet !

Talking of holistic nutrition and well-being is a fad now ! Every one speaks organic ! How many actually think about the environment when they make a food choice ?

My article for #revue is a rebellious one ! It shatters the myth that what one eats is one’s own matter and in no way harms the planet !

We speak of growth while giving a backseat to agriculture . New crops and global markets are demanding new avenues while local produce is suffering ! Consumers are spoilt for choice and prices are touching the sky ! Greenhouse gas emissions , carbon from vehicles , untamed demand for exotic foods , untimely weather changes and mad advertising is driving the world crazy ! Sit up , speak up for your children and grandchildren before it’s too late !

My latest concern while campaigning for a #plasticfree economy is microplastics ! A hidden , sometimes camouflaged ingredient of our food ! Our children eat this in the packaged food , housewives are buying it in the fruits ,vegetables , poultry and seafood they purchase . Nobody is spared . The health hazards are many and ignorance is bliss here !

My article with AFT Media is an eye opener for the common man . The food industry knows very well about it but profits are huge so they turn a blind eye ! Next time you dip that tea bag in your warm cup of water , believe that thousands are microplastics are released in it . Consumer awareness will be a change maker . Let us shift from passive consumers to active decision makers ! Say No to Microplastics !

Is Climate Change affecting the food on your plate ?

With growing demand for food and blind consumerism which knows no bounds , we are heading for a crash of the food industry .

I was in a serious conversation this week with Parallel Lives Network and Docmedia centre ,UK about how agriculture is being affected by the ClimateCrisis and viceversa .
The fear is that the water wars of the world will be followed by food battles !

The education of crop rotation , limiting demand for food ,going local , noplastic packaging and consumer awareness seem like little steps but will go a long way in diminishing carbon emissions and heating up the planet .

Excessive rainfall , typhoons , melting glaciers , untimely snowfall , flooding are mere indicators of an upset earth !

India is a pioneer in using solar power in its farmlands , biogas and energy projects are subsidised and agriculture laws are being reviewed . There is a tumult of change coming .
Don’t you consider this a climate shock that farmers in Napa valley are watering their vineyards with dirty water and spraying sunscreen so that the grapes donot wither in the excessive heat ?

Time to wake up and take a call ! We want action and not mere policies !