A year and a half ago, a group of residents (adults and kids) formed an Eco Team to lead the change in the community. It was clear that almost everyone cared deeply - pledges were signed, placard marches held, posters were made.
Over the last four years, Jitendra Mane, a 32 year old teacher from a village called Tilwani in Kolhapur, has been inspiring kids despite suffering from a severe form of arthritis.
It has taken one courageous mayor, one driven municipal commissioner, a few dedicated men, remarkably little money and 18 months to transform the face of the city
"At the time, I knew nothing about thyroid cancer. I knew I had a thyroid, but didn’t really know what it did. We are told to check our skin for moles, or for lumps in our breasts, but no one ever talks about checking your neck."