Groups lead efforts to clean up Bengaluru

City-based volunteers are clearing garbage, painting black spots and reviving lakes.

Waste collection services haven’t been able to keep pace with the growing population of Bengaluru, causing the city to pay a hefty price for its economic growth.
Concerned citizens, however, have taken it upon themselves to fill in for the authorities and are taking initiatives to clean up the city and revive its lost glory.

Metrolife gives an insight into some of the organisations working to lessen Bengaluru’s waste burden.

Youth For Parivarthan (YFP)

Founded by Amith Amarnath in the year 2014, YFP is a community of students and working professionals who come together on weekends to clean up the city.
It identifies garbage-prone areas across Bengaluru and cleans and beautifies them by painting them and installing planters and benches.
A completely citizen-driven initiative, it encourages the active participation of residents in each area it takes up for beautification.
Founder Amith Amarnath says, “Without the participation of residents, what we do becomes meaningless. We receive a lot of requests from residents seeking our help to clean up garbage-prone areas in their vicinity.”
Funds are raised from citizens. Amith explains, “They have a sense of ownership when they spend from their pocket and will take care of the maintenance afterwards.”

Part of the work involves going from door-to-door, and urging people to maintain the cleanliness of the spot, he adds. The group holds its events every Sunday.
Phone: [phone].

Let’s Be The change

Let’s Be The Change (LBTC) comprises enthusiastic youngsters who aim to build a cleaner and healthier society. Started by Anirudh Dutt in July 2013, LBTC has been growing since. It has held over 250 events, including awareness programmes, cleanliness drives, and pet adoption drives. They follow a simple design while painting walls -- a terracotta base with white designs and figurines on top.

LBTC’s objective is to act as a bridge between citizens and BBMP officials.

“At present, we are conducting a summer camp called Minions of Change,” Anirudh says. That is a 10-day camp and is aimed at children between seven and 12 years.

“We are teaching them the importance of being a part of the change and also what it takes to be a leader in such a movement,” says Anirudh.
Phone: [phone]

Way for Life

Way for Life is run by students working towards the improvement of schools, clearing of black spots and revival of lakes. They are currently working on rejuvenating Kaggadasapura Lake.

They have beautified a school in HSR Layout and also done up a reading space for an Ashram near Sarjapur.

CEO Uday Kumar says, “Our motivation is simple; it doesn’t matter what the society gives you, what’s more important is what you give back to the society. We enjoy our work.”
Way For Life has conducted about 200 events over two years. They have reduced 50-plus black spots in the city and donated goods worth Rs 1 crore to flood-affected areas in Kerala and Kodagu. They have clocked in 6,000 hours of teaching and trained 100 volunteers in NGO management.
Phone: [phone]