To protect the environment, India has framed comprehensive rules and regulations but what is lacking is their implementation and compliance. In a democratic setup the citizens of a country have been granted certain rights but they also have to fulfill certain obligations and duties. Nature does not provide us with unlimited resources to be tapped in abundance. These resources have to be replenished. For example, roof-top rainwater harvesting in urban areas and checking dams and water bodies in rural areas are the need of the hour. The wood required for the housing sector should be replenished by planting indigenous trees. Solid waste generated should be either turned into compost or recycled. The same holds good for waste paper.

CLEAN-India is a unique programme striving to address the above issues by utilising child power to create awareness among the people and demonstrate that positive results are achievable. But this requires a holistic approach along with a mass movement involving all the stakeholders. School children have been successful in demonstrating that things can be changed for the better but it takes concentrated efforts to galvanize the society. We cannot achieve the millennium development goals unless the government, corporate sector, civic agencies, especially the leadership, exhibit a determined resolve to take charge and act together. We cannot wait for outside aid to solve our problems. We cannot afford to waste our resources in an injudicious manner. We cannot rest assured on development plans which are not implemented due to the casual or irresponsible attitude of the powers that be. Without crying hoarse about things not being done or going wrong, the society has to take positive steps to make things work for the better. CLEAN-India children are leading the way and it is up to us to join hands with them to protect our environment.

Let us look at a few examples. In Thailand, every school-going child plants a sapling every year and nurtures it. In Singapore, strict laws are enforced against littering. In China all of the land, especially the hilly region, comes under massive plantation. One cannot see any barren slopes or degraded hillsides. Overpopulated cities like Shanghai (population 13.5 million approx.) are neat, clean and garbage free. Even a war-devastated country like Vietnam keeps its rivers and water bodies clean. Weeds like water hyacinth, which choke the water bodies, are harvested for manufacture of furniture and handicrafts. Organic fertilizer sprays are being used for organic framing. A systematic, business approach toward a clean environment is undertaken to reap the benefits of nature without causing its destruction. Positive steps are being taken to control emission of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.