PNS|Vijayawada
In front of a large gathering on the Krishna River’s south bank under Vaaradhi, comprising hundreds of members, river walkers, runners, and swimmers who volunteered from 2012 to 2023, several speakers and prominent citizens lauded the impact of a decade of river cleanups by the Walkers and Runners.
Speaking after flagging off children’s sand run and river swim, former mayor of Vijayawada city Dr. Jandhyala Shankar lauded the greening efforts by AWARA volunteers, who created three fruit tree parks along the river bank and cleansed off the piled-up trash. He recalled AWARA’s efforts in publishing a systematic study of river trash over the years that determined how a ban on single-use plastic could cut down nearly 78 per cent trash hills dotting every ward and village of our nation.
In his chief guest address, philanthropist, industrialist, and former MP Gokaraju Gangaraju said to make a habitually ‘d’ site into an ODF site was no mean task, but for the tenacity of AWARA cleaning efforts. That ritualised discipline could be behind the success of scores of youngsters who competitively secured competitive jobs in the paramilitary and the Army.
NDRF 10th battalion Deputy Commandant Akhilesh Kumar Choubey recalled the long and fruitful years of association with AWARA in common causes and training.
School student volunteers Loukya, Vaishnavi and Indira put up a public display of their resuscitation skills for first responders. Retired Professor of Diabetology Dr. PV Rao organized a diabetic camp for adults and children, that was attended by several Vijayawada and Guntur physicians including Drs. Ramakumar, RamBabu, Ramana Murthy, and Satya Kishore.
Welcoming the gathering, a well-known environmentalist and AWARA founder Prof Ajay Katragadda remembered the thousands of citizen volunteers behind this 10-year saga and felicitated each one by name. Coach coordinator Sakuntaladevi, teacher Sharone, NDRF Inspector Sivakiran, and Head Constable Md Rafi Farooki supervised the arrangements.
