Srinagar: Bilal Ahmed, an 18-year-old rag picker from J&K, began cleaning the filthy waters of Wular, Asia's second largest fresh water lake in Bandipore district of north Kashmir, as a twelve year old. He started doing this to steer his family, which was virtually going through hunger pangs after his father Muhammad Ramzan Dar died of cancer.
“I was in Class 6 when my father passed away. He left behind a family of four in poverty. There was no one to support us. I quit my studies as my mother couldn’t pay my school fee,” he said. Ahmed leaves his home in Laharwarpora hamlet located in Wullar area at dawn daily to collect garbage in the lake in his boat. He then sells the scrap and other recyclable material to a scrap dealer. The rest of the garbage is packed off to municipal garbage bins.
“This effort fetches me Rs 200 to Rs 250 daily. I decided to clean Wular in the belief that not only would the lake be cleaned, but also the effort would support my family,” he added. “The amount earned by Ahmed was agreat support to my family,” said Muggli, Ahmed’s mother.
The lake, faced with environmental threats, is one of the 26 Indian wetlands designated as a Ramsar site. In fact, the expanse of the lake was reduced to 72 km from 273 km due to conversion of large parts of its catchment areas into farm land, weeds, pollution from fertilizers, animal waste and garbage.
His effort, however, did not go unrewarded. Envir-onment science filmmaker Jalal Ud Din Baba made a movie ‘Saving the Saviour’ on Ahmed and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) made him its brand ambassador and gave him the responsibility to create environmental awareness among people.
This apart, Ahmed has received a number of awards and citations in recognition of his exemplary work locally. “I would be paid a salary of Rs 8,500 per month. It is a huge amount for me as it would change my world. I have told my mother that my younger sister can now go to school. My elder sister is married,” he said.
However, his joy doubled when PM Narendra Modi praised him and his effort during his monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ on September 24 and said that he was a source of inspiration for “all of us”. Mr Modi congratulated Ahmed for taking up the task of cleaning Wular and appreciated the SMC for appointing him its brand ambassador. “He got linked to cleanliness campaign since the age of 12 years and has been working for the past five to six years.”
He also said that by clearing the trash from Wular, Ahmed also earns from it. “I congratulate the SMC for appointing Ahmed as an ambassador because Srinagar is a tourist destination and every Indian wants to go there.” The SMC has given Ahmed a uniform and a vehicle to tour various parts of the Valley. He has also been promised a motorcycle to facilitate his mobility further.
Mr Modi said, “Ahmed is young, but is a source of inspiration for those who are interested in cleanliness.” He hopes that the recognition would also make his long-cherished dream come true —- providing drinking water supply and construction of an approach road to his village. “The people of my village face difficulty in their absence. I hope the authorities will listen to us at least now,” Ahmed said. Mr Baba is equally hopeful.
