Akshat Shah and Shubh Mehta, two engineering graduates, are transforming the Girgaon Chowpatty beach in Mumbai with their efforts.
At the helm of ‘Change Is Us’ — a beach cleanup venture started in 2019 — the duo has diverted over 52,000 kg of waste off the shores of this beach.
Climate change and anxiety about where the planet is heading inspired Akshat to come up with this initiative.
“Change starts in the smallest of ways,” he says in hindsight. If he couldn’t start a revolution, he says, then he could at least start by picking up a few pieces of thrash.
He credits the ‘Mahim beach cleanup’ group led by Indranil Sengupta and Rabia, for introducing him to the fascinating world of cleanups and creating impact through drives.
In time, Akshat joined hands with Shubh, and the duo scaled the initiative.They say over time they have witnessed an evolution of mindsets.
Instead of people viewing beach cleanups as a recreational activity, they now see it as their moral obligation — something they want to do for the planet.
The duo recalls their first-ever cleanup in July 2019, saying, “We were joined by 18 volunteers.”Cut to today, when over 25,000 eager people have been a part of their initiatives.
When the team isn’t occupied planning a drive, they are busy conducting youth advocacy sessions and workshops at schools and colleges.
Through these, they address topics such as plastic pollution, sustainability, global warming, etc. They have conducted over 25 of these sessions.