Women Wings of Ladakh Buddhist Association, Anjuman Imamia, Anjuman Moin ul-Islam and Christian Community participated in a cleanliness drive on ‘Earth Day’ on 22 April. This year the women of Leh decided to celebrate earth day in the true sense by cleaning their respective areas.

The event was supported by All Ladakh Tour Operator Association, Taxi union, Bus union, Tempo union and Truck union of Leh.

Rinchen Namgial, President ALTOA emphasized that the responsibility lies with every individual to keep their environment clean and not to throw garbage in open or on roads. “Let’s pledge that we will keep our Ladakh clean”, he said.

Tsewang Dolma, President LBA said, “We the women wings of all the four major religions of Leh together decided to celebrate this day by cleaning our locality. We have instructed everyone to clean their respective areas and collect the garbage at one point from where the municipality vehicle will collect and dump it somewhere else”. She also added that Ladakh has witnessed many deadly diseases in the past which were unknown in our region earlier. Unhygienic water and dirty environment are the main causes of these diseases. She also appealed all the parents and teachers to teach the children to throw garbage in dustbins.

Fatima Bano (Atum), President Anjuman moin-ul-Islam highlighted that Chutey rantak was one of the cleanest areas of Leh town in early days where people from different corners of Leh town used to come to carry clean water to their homes. “Keep aside drinking; now it is even impossible to wash your hands in this water because of pollution”, she added. She requested everyone to keep their environment clean.

Meanwhile, all the citizens of Leh town were seen working and cleaning their locality to mark Earth Day celebration.