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15-year-old NRI girl takes up campaign to save Godavari; completes 100 clean-up days
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VISAKHAPATNAM: Umasri Pujyam, a 15-year-old girl from Memphis, USA, is leading a multifaceted campaign to address the numerous environmental issues affecting river Godavari stretch near Razole in Konaseema district. She embarked on this mission after she had witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of these environmental issues during a visit to her birthplace – Ponnamanda village.
Umasri has organised and conducted over 100 river clean-up days on Godavari, bringing together volunteers from the local community to address the issue of pollution, in the last two years. She is also educating local residents about proper waste disposal and ways to reduce their impact on the environment. In this journey, she founded the 'Youth Against Water Pollution' organisation with the intent of raising awareness on water pollution.
She managed her time in this mission by staying in India for several months during the beginning of the project when her classes were conducted in virtual mode in 2021. Since then, she has focussed on bringing awareness through a website, social media accounts, etc. apart from her fieldwork during her visits to India.
Speaking to ToI, Umasri, who is currently in her sophomore year (class X), said that despite living next to the river, people of her village have been forced to buy water due to the contamination. “Our village Ponnamanda is a largely agricultural-based place. My parents both grew up in the Konaseema district and I lived there until our family moved to the USA when I was 4. My relatives continue to live there, so I still feel attached to it. I found that river Godavari, which is central to the livelihoods of millions of people, is facing a range of threats, including water and plastic pollution. I am also concerned about the impact of agricultural practices on the local environment. The heavy use of chemicals like fertilisers and pesticides in farming has led to runoff that contaminates streams and rivers, further exacerbating the problem of water pollution. This made me take up the river clean-up and environmental protection mission,” said Umasri.
When asked whether she is collaborating with locals, Umasri said that she does the river clean-up work on her own but is also enlisting volunteers if possible. “I have collaborated with local officials and politicians including Amalapuram MP Chinta Anuradha and Razole MLA Rapaka to help work towards better environmental policies and conditions as well,” Umasri added.
Explaining her academic aspirations, the 15-year-old girl said that she wants to be an environmental engineer.
Her father Vijayakumar Pujyam is a Hindu priest and does freelance.
Umasri has organised and conducted over 100 river clean-up days on Godavari, bringing together volunteers from the local community to address the issue of pollution, in the last two years. She is also educating local residents about proper waste disposal and ways to reduce their impact on the environment. In this journey, she founded the 'Youth Against Water Pollution' organisation with the intent of raising awareness on water pollution.
She managed her time in this mission by staying in India for several months during the beginning of the project when her classes were conducted in virtual mode in 2021. Since then, she has focussed on bringing awareness through a website, social media accounts, etc. apart from her fieldwork during her visits to India.
Speaking to ToI, Umasri, who is currently in her sophomore year (class X), said that despite living next to the river, people of her village have been forced to buy water due to the contamination. “Our village Ponnamanda is a largely agricultural-based place. My parents both grew up in the Konaseema district and I lived there until our family moved to the USA when I was 4. My relatives continue to live there, so I still feel attached to it. I found that river Godavari, which is central to the livelihoods of millions of people, is facing a range of threats, including water and plastic pollution. I am also concerned about the impact of agricultural practices on the local environment. The heavy use of chemicals like fertilisers and pesticides in farming has led to runoff that contaminates streams and rivers, further exacerbating the problem of water pollution. This made me take up the river clean-up and environmental protection mission,” said Umasri.
When asked whether she is collaborating with locals, Umasri said that she does the river clean-up work on her own but is also enlisting volunteers if possible. “I have collaborated with local officials and politicians including Amalapuram MP Chinta Anuradha and Razole MLA Rapaka to help work towards better environmental policies and conditions as well,” Umasri added.
Explaining her academic aspirations, the 15-year-old girl said that she wants to be an environmental engineer.
Her father Vijayakumar Pujyam is a Hindu priest and does freelance.
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