Saluting The Spirit Of Volunteering

In line with its ongoing commitment to foster citizen involvement in maintaining the cleanliness of the city, Adar Poonawalla Clean City (APCCI) recently hosted a special event to honor the residents of Kalyani Nagar for their unwavering spirit of volunteerism. Kalyani Nagar, a picturesque suburb in Pune, boasts proactive and engaged citizens who prioritize dialogue and mutual respect within their community.

 

Fuelled by numerous citizen-led initiatives, the locality stands out as one of the most dynamic in the city. A shining example is 'Team Swachh Kalyani Nagar,' whose 'Resource Cycling Center' (RRC) project, in collaboration with the Pune Municipal Corporation, has brought about tangible positive change. This organized waste segregation facility owes its success to a dedicated group of local residents whose commitment, sense of ownership, and perseverance have transformed cleanliness into a grassroot movement.

APCCI honoured these change-makers in recognition of their impactful work. Among those felicitated were Mrs. Rachna Aggarwal, Mr. Drayson Dixon, Mrs. Shirin Nalwala, Mr. Jaffar Iqbal , Mrs. Aruna Suratkal, Mr. Firdosh Roowalla, Mrs. Vijaya Jagannatharao, Mrs. Maya Ramchandani, Mr. Gausmohmed Soudagar, Mr. Vinay Rambal, Mr. Satyajit Patel, and Mrs. Vaishali Nadkarny. They were honoured with environment friendly momento, 100% recycled T-shirt ( made from 20 PET bottles), certificate  and a bag of compost  at the hands of Mr. Krishnan Komadur, CEO APCCI, Malhar Karwande, COO APCCI and Sathya Natarajan, Lead Volunteer APCCI.

The event provided a platform for attendees to engage in fruitful discussions and share ideas. Ms. Purnima Joshi, a member of Team Swachh Kalyani Nagar, emphasized the importance of responsible waste management, stating, "While we generate waste, it's our responsibility to ensure proper disposal." Everybody learns something from volunteering. For some it means giving back to the society, while for some it means a sense of responsibility and duty. Another member of Team Swachh Kalyani Nagar Ms.Sirin Nalwala expressed her happiness of having started volunteering and said that ‘volunteering is the greatest educator’.

The proactiveness of this group has been instrumental in driving the success of the project. As Mr. Jaffar Iqbal, Secretary of Team Swachh Kalyani Nagar, aptly stated, "We shouldn't wait for others to start volunteering before we do. We should lead by example and inspire others to follow suit."