Clean Planet

Dear Mr Modi ,

Thank you for all that you are doing for India. It is the first time that a Prime Minister has invited citizens to share ideas for the 15th Aug address to the nation. One of the many firsts of this truly inclusive government under your visionary leadership.

I run a business wherein we create eco and handcrafted products that help people bring sustainability and craft into their everyday living. We believe that ‘Each One of Us Can Make a Difference. Together we make Change‘.

This 15th Aug pl invite every citizen to do something positive for India – every week. By 15th Aug 2017 we would have potentially 52 constructive actions for the nation. There are people in India (like you) who have dedicated their life to the nation. We have millions who are focused only on their life. In my work in the space of sustainability i have seen that for a lot of people there is a peculiar combination of apathy & powerlessness. With the rise of social media people voice their views. There is a lot of arm chair activism. Which perhaps (and hopefully ) is the first step towards activism in action.

Doing something for India – is not a call just to citizens with smart phones and access to social media . EVERY citizen should be invited , challenged , inspired to do something tangible and positive for India.

An auto driver may give a free lift to an aged underprivileged person , a college student can help a local Ngo , a working professional may help a student , a bank official official makes people aware about insurance n inspires them to go for it , a housewife decides to make her home plastic free , appreciate and support the social workers in your area , pledge to stop littering. People can use their core skills to make a difference. e.g a doctor treats at least 1 patient a week free of cost , a nurse tends extra care to a patient who does not have a family. Start a hashtag e.g #IndiaPositive. Idea is not self publicity. The goal is for Indians to get inspired by other Indians. As you have seen in your journey so far – once you engage people the outcomes are brilliant. All the astrologers of the world put together cannot predict the outcomes. Think of the hashtag as a way to crowdsource ideas for Indians by Indians to make a better India. Encourage media to run programs every month . In your #MannKiBaat every time remind people to continue their ‘#India Positive’ work , ask schools to get kids to write essays on what they are doing for it. Translate the essence of the Hashtag into regional languages. The spirit of it is more important than the physical words.

1 billion people. 52 billion potential ‘India Positive’ acts . This will bring Indians closer to each other and to India. We have problems of people from some regions not feeling welcome in some places , definitely we have a socio economic divide. Conscious ‘India Positive’ acts can integrate and turbo charge India in ways we cannot even imagine. People in some states feel less of a connection to India. Imagine Indians in Kashmir and N.East thinking about what they can do for India. When a person does something consciously and ongoingly for the country – they will become more engaged & aware citizens. An engaged & aware citizen is less likely to litter India , to let women be brutalised , to watch anti national elements try to fragment India. Our police and armed forces will have 1 billion new recruits. Today overseas Indians know that if their message reaches Ms Sushma Swaraj they can expected to be helped . Imagine a India where Indians in India know that they can rely on their fellow citizens .

Giving & Doing are powerful anti dotes to helplessness . It will connect a person to their inner strength. Let this herald the start of a new tradition in India. The current generation of kids grow up watching their parents consciously doing something positive for India. What a legacy that will be ! Truly it will make India ” Saare Jahan Se Accha”.

Jai Hind

Savitha Rao

Founder , Clean Planet

www.cleanplanet.in