“I am Sorry, I Give Up”: Afroz Shah Suspends Mumbai Beach Clean-Up

Shah’s movement had lasted 109 weekends, and seen a collection of over 9 million tonnes of waste.

Volunteers help out with the beach clean-up drive in the 109th week. 

(Photo: Twitter/@Afrozshah1)

Afroz Shah, layer-activist who was the brain behind the Versova beach clean-up has suspended the clean-up movement after his volunteers were heckled and abused for six weeks by miscreants along the shore.

Shah’s movement had lasted 109 weekends, and seen a collection of over nine million tonnes of waste. But now, the heckling and abuse has broken his spirit and courage.

I was working very hard at ground-level but I realised people’s mindsets were not changing, must face it truthfully. I drew a balance sheet to see where I was after 109 weeks when my volunteers were told off the beach.

Afroz Shah, Citizen activist

Shah refuses to believe that giving up is a sign of defeat. He, instead, says that accepting defeat in this situation will help him change things with a different approach.

For his initiative, Shah has been awarded by the United Nations and applauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He started the beach clean-up initiative with a handful of volunteers back in 2015, but now, hundreds of volunteers, including students, residents of Versova, and working professionals, have joined the initiative.

Shah has now lodged a complaint with the Versova police station, who have promised that the miscreants will be traced.

Video Producer: Anmol Saini
Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj

Also watch: A Lawyer’s Lone Effort Leads to the Clean-Up of Versova Beach