Small Steps towards Lasting Change: My Bhoomi's Journey Towards a Plastic-Free Environment

June–October 2026 | The Satsang Foundation

Environmental change often begins with the simplest of actions—picking up discarded plastic, choosing a reusable bag or encouraging someone to be more mindful of the waste they leave behind. When these small actions are repeated and shared, they gradually become a collective movement.

Between June and October 2026, My Bhoomi, the environmental initiative of The Satsang Foundation, continued its efforts to address plastic pollution through awareness programmes, cleanliness drives and community participation across Madanapalle, Pune, Bengaluru, Ganagapur and Kerala. What stood out was not merely the quantity of waste collected, but the growing commitment of individuals and communities towards protecting their surroundings.

The journey gained momentum on World Environment Day, 5 June, at The Satsang Foundation's Madanapalle Ashram. An awareness session brought together approximately 45 participants, including staff from Swaasthya Hospitals, teachers from Satsang Vidyalaya and members of the Ashram community. The session highlighted the environmental consequences of plastic pollution, particularly the threat of microplastics contaminating soil and water.

What followed was perhaps even more significant. Awareness translated into action.

Beginning on 6 June, volunteers at Madanapalle, in collaboration with Swaasthya Hospitals, initiated plastic waste collection drives around the Ashram. The first two days alone saw 34 bags of plastic collected for recycling. Rather than remaining a one-time activity, the initiative evolved into regular weekend plogging drives, combining walking with the collection of discarded plastic.

Week after week, volunteers returned with the same commitment. By 19 July, approximately 113 bags of plastic waste—an estimated 452 kg—had been collected at Madanapalle alone. The true achievement was not just the quantity collected, but the consistency with which the initiative was sustained.

Engaging young minds remained an equally important part of My Bhoomi's efforts. 

On 19 June, an awareness programme at The Satsang Vidyalaya introduced approximately 72 students and teachers from Grades 4-6 to the vision and mission of My Bhoomi. The session encouraged children to understand the consequences of plastic pollution and recognise their responsibility towards the environment. Awareness nurtured at a young age has the potential to shape habits for a lifetime.

The spirit of World Environment Day extended to Pune, where approximately 40 volunteers participated in a cleanliness drive at Wagahcha Ghat on 6 June, collecting an estimated 32–40 kg of plastic waste.

An important milestone came on 29 July, on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, with the introduction of Bhoomi Bags, reusable cloth bags designed to encourage a shift away from single-use plastics. The initiative reflected My Bhoomi's belief that environmental responsibility must extend beyond collecting waste to preventing its generation. By encouraging people to carry reusable bags in their everyday lives, Bhoomi Bags offered a simple, practical way to make sustainability a conscious habit. Their introduction on Guru Purnima brought together the spirit of mindful living and care for the Earth.

As the months progressed, the initiative reached new communities.

On 15 August, Independence Day, approximately 135 students participated in a plastic awareness walkathon in and around Ganagapur, Karnataka. Their participation carried a simple but meaningful message, that caring for one's country also means caring for its land, rivers and public spaces.

In Bengaluru, My Bhoomi collaborated with Baker Tilly One India on a plastic awareness drive during which reusable Bhoomi Bags were distributed and the public was encouraged to reduce their dependence on single-use plastics. While cleanliness drives address existing pollution, adopting reusable alternatives is an important step towards preventing waste at its source.

October marked another significant chapter in this journey. At Ganagapur Sangam, a sacred site visited by devotees, discarded clothing and other waste presents an ongoing environmental challenge. Recognising the need for both awareness and collective action, My Bhoomi organised a two-day drive on 1-2 October. The first day focused on engaging local shopkeepers and community members, encouraging responsible waste disposal and greater ownership of the cleanliness of their surroundings. On Gandhi Jayanti, 2 October, schoolchildren, volunteers, temple cleaning staff and local stakeholders came together for a large-scale cleanliness and plogging drive. With the support of the Deputy Commissioner's Office and the Department of School Education (DDPI), approximately 700–800 kg of waste was collected. The drive demonstrated the strength of collaboration between communities, educational institutions, temple authorities and the local administration. It also reinforced an important thought: protecting sacred spaces is as much about respecting nature as it is about preserving places of spiritual significance.

The spirit of Gandhi Jayanti was also reflected in Nooranad, Kerala, where local residents participated in a cleanliness and plastic awareness drive, collecting approximately 50 kg of waste.

Across these initiatives, an estimated 1.2 to 1.3 tonnes of waste was collected, with 282 reported volunteer participations. Students and community members were engaged through awareness programmes, walkathons, and collaborative activities.

Numbers tell only part of the story. The greater impact lies in the willingness of people to participate—hospital staff who returned weekend after weekend, children who carried the message of environmental responsibility, volunteers who gave their time, and communities that began taking greater ownership of their surroundings. These efforts reinforced a simple understanding: awareness creates the foundation, participation builds momentum, and consistency makes change possible.

For My Bhoomi, the objective extends beyond collecting discarded plastic. It is about encouraging conscious choices, reducing waste at its source and nurturing a shared sense of responsibility towards the environment. There is still much to be done, but the past few months have demonstrated what is possible when individuals, institutions and communities come together with a common purpose. 

Ultimately, the true measure of success will be how little plastic waste we can leave behind.

To know more about our teams and be a part of this movement, please write to us at connect@satsang-foundation.org.