Youths join hands to save nature

PUNE: Mobile messaging apps help connect friends and families, but some use the platform to make new buddies and strike fresh relationships with an objective to share information, knowledge and experiences for the betterment of the society.
Hemal Patel, in his early 30s, thought of one such idea in 2014.“I was disturbed with the way our society misuses and overuses its natural resources.I wondered what's the legacy we are going to leave for our coming generations. `Sustainable Living', a WhatsApp group, germinated from this idea, which has now grown into a full-fledged tree of thought with over 500 members divided into four subgroups,“ said Hemal, involved in providing full-time training on terrace gardening using environment-fri endly methods.
“The thread that binds us is sustainability, the ability to use resources without jeopardizing the needs of future generations.Most of us are youngsters, some of whom quit their full-time jobs for the cause,“ said Hemal.
Some are rearing desi cows, while others have opted for organic farming. Recycling (mostly plastic) is the area of interest for many . A group has taken up the arduous task of collecting garbage from two big housing societies and using it to produce manure.Yet another group is working towards cleaning rivers .
Bhushan Patil, a techie turned economist, is working on the idea of decentralization of natural resources. “I am studying the root of several imbalances we see in our society , mostly in terms of distribution of natural resources like water,“ said Patil.
On March 27, the group members will meet at Gandhi Bhavan in Kothrud for the first time. The post-lunch session (2pm to 8pm) is open for all who want to know about sustainable living or have their own unique ideas.