Jackie Shroff posing at events with a potted plant in his hands is a frequent sight. The senior actor has consistently used public appearances to reinforce his message of preserving the planet and building a greener tomorrow. Now, he is taking his environmental advocacy forward with Mitti Ki Awaaz, an initiative that encourages young people to take actionable measures around sustainability.
Shroff, who has founded the initiative with JK Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, is clear that the youth need to be the driving force of change. Talking to mid-day, the actor said, “If the future belongs to the youth, they have to step in to shoulder the responsibility of a greener tomorrow. The planet must be shaped with them, and it’s our duty to clean up our mess.”
And where do you speak to the youth if not at colleges? Shroff will host Mitti Ki Awaaz’s first on-ground initiative at PP Savani University in Surat, Gujarat, on February 21. On the third day of the university’s annual college festival, panel discussions, sapling plantation drive, and a concert will be held, all aimed at spotlighting the cause. The actor added, “Today’s generation has to be aware of what destruction is being left behind. Mitti Ki Awaaz [sparks a change] by actively involving the voices of today, not just by speaking to them.”
Soft launch
. Lucknow
. Mysuru
. Jodhpur
Where sapling plantation drives were conducted in the run-up to the initiative’s official launch in Surat