CORPORATE CITIZEN CLAPS FOR A SON WHO HAS HAD THE COURAGE TO CONGRATULATE HIS MOTHER ON TAKING HER WEDDING VOWS A SECOND TIME OVER

This ‘son’ from Kerala, Gokul Sreedhar, shared his emotions very bravely on social media, very well knowing that his mother’s approach to living her life with freedom and happiness might not have many takers in conservative circles. An excerpt from Sreedhar’s Facebook post, translated from his native Malayalam reads, “A woman who set aside her life for me. She has suffered a lot in what was a disastrous marriage. After getting beaten, when blood dripped from her forehead, I have often asked her why she bore it. I remember her telling me that she was willing to suffer for my sake as she was living for me. That day, when I left the house with her, I had decided about this moment. My mother, who set aside her entire youth for me, has a lot of dreams and heights to conquer. I have nothing more to say. I realised that this is something that does not need to be kept hidden. Mother, happy married life”.

This note from a son to his mother, left many teary-eyed which depicts that society perhaps is slowly getting enlightened to uplift women who languish behind the imaginary ‘hand of destiny’ in charting her life. Gokul, who had reportedly earned 29,000 ‘likes’ and close to 3000 ‘shares’ for this Facebook post, was initially apprehensive and dithered to post his feelings. He felt that his positive stake for his mother’s happiness might be misinterpreted by self-proclaimed ‘moral police’. Gokul soon broke free from his emotional conflict and expressed himself, but not before issuing a disclaimer for those viewing his post with a regressive mentality. He posted, “It was my mother’s marriage. I thought a lot about whether to write such a note. After all, this is a time when a lot of people still cannot accept a second marriage. Those with eyes of suspicion, pity and hate, please don’t glance here. Even if you look, no one will melt here…” Bravo Gokul! Here’s hoping for many more ‘Gokuls’ to support their women from the dark despairs of an invisible misogynistic section of our society.

CORPORATE CITIZEN SLAPS THE EVER-BURGEONING MOUND OF THRASH THAT HAS TRANSLATED INTO SMELLY LANDFILLS IN MOST MEGACITIES AND TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN INDIA TODAY

More than eyesores, these pose environmental and health risks. The Ghazipur landfill, on the outskirts of Delhi, has now towered as high as the Taj Mahal! Hosting events in natural surroundings without taking stalk of large-scale scientific garbage disposal is a brunt on Municipal Corporations and their limited resources too. A case in point has been on the Uttarakhand High Court’s impending verdict on whether to refund Rs.3 crore security money deposited by South African businessmen of Indian origin, Ajay Gupta’s family with the Chamoli district administration for hosting a lavish Rs.200 crore destination wedding for his sons, that resulted in some 240 quintals of garbage at the Himalayan ski resort at Auli at an altitude of 12,000 feet. It has taken over a month to restore some pristineness to the surrounding. “Auli is totally clean now. We have picked up all the garbage and cleaned all the pit sewage,” said S.P. Nautiyal, Executive Officer of the Joshimath Municipality. The municipality has also slapped several charges-a fine of Rs.2.5 lakh for scattering garbage and defecating in open, Rs.1 lakh for defecating in open and Rs.1.5 lakh is the penalty for scattering garbage. Additionally, the municipality has billed Rs.8.14 lakh for collection of the leftover garbage as environmentalists raised concerns. While the Gupta brothers have deposited Rs.5.54 lakh with the municipality which is inclusive of Rs.54,000 as user charges; they have assured the officials that they would shortly pay-up all these dues. Does money equate to the insensitiveness when irreversible eco-damage is at stake? And, lessons don’t seem to be learnt! Over 10 lakh tourists have reportedly left behind 2,000 tonnes of waste during their visit to Manali in May and June 2019. “In order to resolve the issue, civic bodies in Manali will work with a garbage power plant that has the capacity to burn 100 tonnes of waste every day, said Narayan Singh Verma, Municipal Council Executive Officer, Manali. While such provisions exist in most states, the resolve to impose scientific waste management techniques in tandem with citizens is the only way forward – fine or not!