A group of youths, mobilising support through social media, have launched a not-for-profit organisation to take up cleaning and greening initiatives in the city.
Christened, “ShineTreechy,” the organisation plans to take up innovative projects, including cleaning projects in public spaces.
On Saturday, a group of about 150 youths, mobilised by the organisation, launched a clean up drive beneath the Thennur road bridge, which has become an eyesore.
The group members, including students and employees of VDart, a private company, cleaned up the pillars, which had become favoured place for putting up posters, and gave a fresh coat of paint for a few of them.
Explaining the motivation behind the project, Manoj Dharmar and Mohammed Imran, the moving force behind the organisation, told The Hindu that their initiative was inspired by a couple of citizen action groups functional in Bengaluru such as ‘ichangemycity’ and ‘Bangalore Rising.’
Both Mr. Dharmar, who works in an IT firm, and Mr. Imran, an animation student, have participated in a few initiatives in Bengaluru and want to replicate the same in Tiruchi, their native town.
“We want to give back something to the city and people can’t expect the government agencies to do everything,” they said.
The two had mobilised the youth through Facebook and WhatsApp for Saturday’s clean up venture at Thennur and obtained permission from the corporation and police for taking up the work.
“We plan to work on weekends and complete the clean up drive at Thennur soon.
“VDart has extended support to us by providing the required material for the work,” Mr. Dharmar said.
After painting the pillars, the group tied up cans with small plants on them in an attempt to prevent pasting of posters and wall writings.
The open space beneath the bridge has come to become a garbage dumping space. Besides, encroachers have occupied vantage spots.
A corporation initiative to fence up the area and beautify the space is yet to be completed.
The group plans to take up similar initiatives in other parts of the city too and invites suggestions from the residents so that places for clean up or other innovative projects could be taken up.
