Innovative Solutions to Combat Plastic Pollution Highlighted at Environmental Event

Addressing Plastic Pollution: Insights from Janak Palta Maglingan

Janak Palta Maglingan emphasized that eliminating plastic use is a key solution to combat pollution during a week-long dialogue organized by the Jimmy and Janak Maglingan Foundation for Sustainable Development. This event coincided with the seventh day of World Environment Day, held at the Jimmy Maglingan Center for Sustainable Development.

The program commenced with a Baha'i prayer led by Dr. (Mrs.) Janak Palta Maglingan, who shared her experiences from the 1992 Earth Summit organized by the United Nations Environment Programme. Witnessing the deteriorating condition of water bodies in Indore inspired her to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. She has worked on barren land twice, transforming both the Barli Institute and the Jimmy Maglingan Center into zero waste, plastic-free, sustainable spaces. She advocated for carrying steel glasses, bottles, and cloth bags as the first steps towards environmental conservation.

Janak defined sustainability as a commitment to the welfare of the world in harmony with all living beings. She believes in thinking globally while acting locally. Cardiologist Dr. Bharat Rawat highlighted the importance of living simply, stating that excessive wealth leads to environmental degradation. He encouraged limited needs for true satisfaction, which helps preserve natural resources, unlike overconsumption that generates waste.

Following this, Nitya Batra performed a captivating Kathak dance, illustrating the pain and aggression of Mother Nature due to pollution and environmental degradation.

Varun Raheja expressed gratitude for learning about solar dryers from Dr. Janak Palta Maglingan during his internship. He pledged to promote 'local production' through his company, Raheja Solar Food Processing, starting with providing laddus made from local fruits in India's Anganwadi and maternal and child programs.

Shubha Chatterjee, Principal of IATV Indore, shared her journey of completing an MSc in Biotechnology after 11 years and her initiative to reduce plastic waste by encouraging children to bring steel lunch boxes instead of plastic ones. She delivered an engaging presentation, personifying plastic and explaining its detrimental effects on the environment.

Vaidya Shefali discussed the commitments made by the residents of Silver Springs, which include establishing a utensil bank for community events, reducing online shopping, and avoiding disposables.

Professor Rajiv Sanghal shared the initiative by Malwanchal University Indore to avoid using plastic bottles, emphasizing that resources cannot be bought with money. He noted that the cost of purchasing petroleum is negligible, with expenses primarily related to transportation and other activities impacting the environment. He concluded that mental solutions to environmental issues must begin with individual actions.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Anurag Shukla stated that sustainability cannot be purchased; it requires fulfilling five basic human needs: air, water, food, shelter, and mental and physical health. Living this way fosters a clean and green environment.

The chief guest, renowned Hindi cricket commentator and Padma Shri awardee, Shri Sushil Doshi, addressed the audience, stating that efforts and initiatives can be achieved through hard work and interest. He emphasized that gratitude towards the environment leads to collective efforts for its preservation. He expressed special respect for Janak Palta Maglingan, who inspires collective action to protect nature and ourselves.

Senior social worker and trustee of the Jimmy and Janak Foundation, Shri Virendra Goyal, concluded the event by pledging to reduce plastic waste starting today.