Ballarpur, August 3, 2025: On a bright Sunday morning, the calm surroundings of Jununa Talaav came alive with unusual energy. The reason was not a festival or a political rally, but something far more meaningful and inspiring. Crescent Public School, Ballarpur, under the guidance of the Biosphere Reserve Champions 2025 initiative, carried out a large‑scale cleanliness drive that attracted more than one hundred and ten students, parents, teachers, and local leaders. What unfolded at the site was more than just a campaign; it was a reflection of how a school, its students, and the community can come together to protect their environment and show by action that sustainable living is not a distant concept but a responsibility shared by all.
The event was conducted as part of the Biosphere Reserve Champions 2025 programme, a nationwide initiative supported by UNESCO and the United Schools Organisation of India (USO). The programme was designed with the intention of engaging schools in direct environmental action so that children do not merely learn about climate change, waste management, or sustainable development in books, but also experience it in real life. Crescent Public School had embraced this call to action with enthusiasm. By choosing Jununa Talaav as the site for its first phase of activity, the school picked a location that was both symbolic and practical. The Talaav is an old water body of the region, one that holds not just ecological significance but also cultural value for the residents of Junnona village. Unfortunately, like many lakes in smaller towns, it had suffered from neglect, litter, and misuse over the years. Cleaning it was a way of restoring dignity to a resource that belongs to everyone.
By 7:30 in the morning, the banks of the lake were dotted with students in their school sports uniforms, gloves on their hands, and sacks in their arms. Teachers and parents guided them, dividing the teams across different sections of the Talaav. The spirit was infectious. Some parents who had only come to drop their children decided to stay and participate, rolling up their sleeves to join the task. Within minutes, heaps of plastic wrappers, discarded bottles, and old polythene bags began to collect. The children worked with diligence, some wading carefully along the water’s edge while others covered the adjoining green patches. It was not just a cleaning exercise, it was an outdoor classroom where every piece of trash picked up became a lesson in what irresponsible disposal does to the environment.
The drive received the active support of two organisations whose presence gave the event both weight and direction. Eco Pro, an international organisation dedicated to environment and wildlife protection, was represented by its well‑known leader, Mr. Bandu Dhotre. A wildlife activist with decades of work to his credit, Mr. Dhotre was more than just a guest of honour. He interacted closely with the students, explaining how waste in water bodies directly affects birds, fish, and even the soil around it. His stories of rescuing wildlife from hazardous situations made the children realise that the plastic they were holding in their hands was not just a nuisance but a danger to life itself.
Alongside him, the presence of Mr. Mohd. Sharif and his team from Paryavaran Vahini added another dimension to the awareness effort. While the students collected waste, Mr. Sharif paused to talk to them about the value of community involvement in sustainability. He reminded them that keeping a place clean is not the job of one day or one group but a constant collective effort. His words found resonance among the parents present, many of whom later shared that they would now ensure that they carry forward the same discipline at home and in their neighbourhoods.
The support of the local leadership was also noteworthy. The Sarpanch of Junnona, Mr. Shende, along with the Up‑Sarpanch, joined the campaign personally. Instead of limiting themselves to formal words of encouragement, they actively participated, speaking with children and even helping in the collection. For the students, it was a rare experience to see their elected leaders working shoulder to shoulder with them. Mr. Shende expressed his pride at seeing young children treat the village’s lake as their own and promised that the Panchayat would follow up with proper facilities, dustbins, and arrangements to ensure that the Talaav remained clean in the future. His words carried weight because they came not as distant assurances but in the midst of genuine action.
As the cleaning continued, bags of waste piled up and were segregated by category under the supervision of teachers and volunteers. Biodegradable matter was separated from plastics and metals, and plans were made for proper disposal. The act of segregation was itself an eye‑opening lesson for the children. Many said they had never realised how much non‑biodegradable waste is thrown into water bodies until they saw the piles sorted before them. Teachers used this opportunity to connect what students had studied in environmental science with the reality on the ground.
By the end of the drive, the change was visible. The banks of Jununa Talaav, which had been dotted with waste, looked cleaner and more welcoming. The water, no longer covered in floating debris, reflected the morning sun with clarity. Villagers who had gathered around as onlookers could not help but comment that the lake had not looked this good in years. The immediate impact was satisfying, but what mattered more was the sense of achievement and responsibility the children carried home.
The event was not limited to cleaning alone. Between sessions, guest speakers and teachers addressed the gathering, raising awareness on why such drives are necessary. Mr. Dhotre spoke passionately about the interconnection between local actions and global challenges, pointing out that keeping a small water body clean contributes to the larger fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. Mr. Sharif of Paryavaran Vahini stressed that campaigns like these should become a habit and not remain symbolic. Principal Mrs. Humaira Khan tied all these messages together in her address. She said, “This cleanliness drive is not just about restoring the beauty of Jununa Talaav. It is about teaching our children that responsibility for nature rests with each one of us. Today’s experience has shown them that by uniting as students, parents, teachers, and community leaders, they can create real change. Jununa Talaav is cleaner today, but more importantly, our children have become aware that they are the guardians of tomorrow’s environment.”
Her words captured the spirit of the day. The staff of Crescent Public School had worked tirelessly in the background to ensure that the event went smoothly. A dedicated team of teaching staff — Mr. Sanjay Shrivastav, Mrs. Vishwabharti Bhagat, Mr. Vinay Wasnik, Mrs. Tasleem Khan, Mrs. Teena Gondane, and Miss Swarnika Umare — supervised, guided, and motivated the students throughout the drive. Their hands‑on involvement, from coordinating logistics to mentoring children, ensured that every part of the programme ran seamlessly. Supporting them were the school’s non‑teaching staff, including Mr. Raju Majgawali and Mr. Sahil Rahikwar, who worked tirelessly to arrange cleaning materials, provide water and refreshments, and manage the collected waste for proper disposal. Their contribution, though often silent, was vital in making the campaign a smooth success.
The campaign also created ripples beyond the immediate circle of participants. Many parents later shared the images and updates on social media, amplifying the message to a larger audience. The school itself has made the report and photographs available on its official website https://www.crescentpublicschool.ac.in/ and encouraged people to view the campaign moments on its official https://www.facebook.com/share/p/163UgU1dJ2/. The online engagement further spread awareness, and comments poured in from alumni, former teachers, and residents living away from Ballarpur, all expressing their appreciation and pride in the initiative.
While the immediate success of the cleanliness drive was clear to everyone, the school did not treat it as a one‑off event. In her closing remarks, Principal Khan announced that Crescent Public School has decided to adopt Jununa Talaav for the academic year, meaning that periodic drives will be organised to ensure the site does not slip back into neglect. Plans are also in place to set up an Eco‑Club that will monitor waste segregation, recycling, and tree plantation activities throughout the year. By aligning its activities with the Biosphere Reserve Champions 2025 framework, the school is ensuring that every project contributes to broader Sustainable Development Goals such as clean water and sanitation, climate action, and life on land.
The broader lesson from the day was clear: children learn best by doing. When they see the garbage pile up, carry it with their own hands, and listen to conservationists talk about its impact, the message stays with them. Parents who worked alongside their children experienced first‑hand the pride of community action. Leaders like Mr. Shende saw in the students a model for civic responsibility. And organisations like Eco Pro and Paryavaran Vahini demonstrated that when NGOs, schools, and local governance collaborate, results are both immediate and lasting.
The Cleanliness Drive at Jununa Talaav was thus more than just a school project. It was an event where environmental education, civic responsibility, and community partnership came together seamlessly. For Ballarpur, it has set a benchmark for how local resources can be preserved with collective effort. For Crescent Public School, it has reinforced its reputation as an institution that not only imparts academic knowledge but also nurtures responsible citizens ready to lead change. And for the students, it was a memory of action, teamwork, and responsibility that will shape their outlook on the environment for years to come.
