Women's Day 2025: Five female eco-warriors on how Mumbai can be greener

Engage with the youngNandini Dubey 22 educator nandinii_dubeWith everything going the digital route children in the city are increasingly oblivious to the gifts of nature around them I was one of them before I started volunteering at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in 2019 Once at a butterfly trail in the park the children were initially petrified because they thought the butterflies could sting them They have now grown into teens who are in love with insects Through my walks focussed on young nature enthusiasts I am trying to educate people about the fun that lies on the greener side of the cityMy Mumbai mission Curb overconsumption in the city Mumbaikars must be mindful of how much and from where we consume to lift the load off the cityrsquos limited resourcesSmile by natureSandra Pereira 26 naturalist the_jungirlPIC COURTESYINSTAGRAMI never intended to be a naturalist I simply enjoyed stepping out and sighting birds Eventually I decided to make exposure to natural knowledge fun through ecologythemed games short videos explainers and cofounded the venture People of The Forest During one of my trails at Bhandup Pumping Station a young participant said my offbeat humorous style sparked an interest in them for Mumbairsquos native birds That small win keeps me goingMy Mumbai mission Reach corporate workers collegians teenagers and schoolgoing children to educate them about the cityrsquos green treasuresArtrsquos the waySefi George 29 illustrator summer_scribblesA completed piece from the DIY craft kit centred on diverse vulture speciesItrsquos only when you know what exists around you that you can strive to conserve it I started sketching and doodling to document the biodiversity in my neighbourhood in Dahisar Over the years I broadened my horizons to share informative illustrations about the flora and fauna along the coastlines and in the mountain ranges of Maharashtra and its neighbouring states I am currently working on a vulturethemed craft kit for kids to get the young minds talking about diverse vulture speciesMy Mumbai mission Raise awareness about the Coastal Road construction that is slowly leading to deterioration of marine life along the shoresPlant a changeSaakshi Teckchandani 25 entrepreneur ppaindiaSaakshi Teckchandani centre helps children plant a saplingDuring the COVID19 lockdown I visited Carter Road and saw the mangroves completely submerged in plastic waste An excellent natural barrier against floods they were suffocating under layers of plastic waste That moment ignited my environmental activism Through tree plantations beach cleanups and immersive activities in collaboration with schools and NGOs my mission has since been to drive sustainable change through community action awareness and advocacy I know the problem is solvable if only Mumbaikars join handsMy Mumbai mission Push for stricter policies around waste management expand our cleanup teams and multiply tree plantations to offset the poor AQIRhyme and reasonMadhura Ghane 27 rapper mahig_55I visited my hometown Waranghusi in Ahilyanagar formerly Ahmednagar a few years ago When I returned to Mumbai after living a slow life among the native birds thick green covers and clean air I realised how disconnected with nature we are in the city In the past two years I have penned and released tracks like Junglecha Raja and Vikasacha Khul that shed light on how Mumbairsquos forests are facing the brunt of the cityrsquos infrastructural development frenzyMy Mumbai mission Put the spotlight on green covers like the Aarey Forest where the Adivasi community continues to fight for their rights