Foundation Stone Laying of Bio-Toilet Marked with a Green Pledge

Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan and Founder of Ganga Action Parivar (GAP) and Global Interfaith WASH Alliance-India, inspired Vivek Oberoi, famous Bollywood actor and humanitarian, to lay the first foundation stones for the bio-toilet complex in LMS Degree College (Rishikesh). The bio-toilet is part of GAP’s 6T’s (Toilets, Trees, Taps, Trash, Tracks and Tigers) Programme that has been conceived and has thrived under Pujya Swamiji’s vision and leadership. With this spirit, after the foundation stone ceremony Pujya Swamiji and Vivek Oberoi took part in a tree plantation in the campus premises.

The complex has been made possible by the generous donation and support of Emami Foundation, Shri RS Agarwalji and Shri RS Goenkaji, as an exemplary example of corporate social responsibility towards vital need of health and sanitation. It will be constructed and designed with the dedicated and committed partnership of Arkin Creations Founder, Shri Manoj Jhaji, who has offered his time, talent, technology and tenacity for this vital cause. It has been and continues to be supported by local and state administration, including recently when Hon’ble Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports, Shri Dinesh Agarwalji, joined for the bhoomi poojan (ground-breaking) of the complex a few weeks ago.

During the divine event Pujya Swamiji emphasized that ‘time has come that we must not only worship the creator but also His creation, servicing humanity and the environment. It is so wonderful that the beloved action hero of millions of youngsters has dedicated himself to raising awareness towards water, sanitation and hygiene issues. It is time that we all must become action heroes in our own schools and communities.’

Vivek Oberoi’s shared, ‘Rishikesh is the most beautiful place in the world. Let us come together with the blessings of Pujya Swamiji to keep it clean and green, starting with our own schools and streets.’ Nearly 4000 students pledged their commitment to Green Action and promised that the next time Vivek Oberoi visits the campus it would be a clean and green one.

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