Manya Harsha, A Sustainable Influencer, Conquering Waste Management Her Way

While the entire world is locked under the blanket of a Pandemic, what are kids into at home these days? Well, if you think the answer is into their phones! You got it wrong. India has been a home to a number of young Environment Heroes trying to raise awareness and funds for environmental issues like sustainability, endangered species, climate change and pollution.

Manya Harsha, BENGALURU based girl , passionate nature lover and crusader who has been rallying since age 6, against the Environmental abuses , such as water wastage , littering on picnic spots, use of single-use plastic and deforestation has set an example to the children of her age.

India With around 1.3 billion population, On an average every household in India generates around 300 grams of Vegetable waste on a daily basis. If this waste is properly utilized, we can do wonders! We have all come across bio enzymes and compost . But this is something totally new! An idea to generate "A paper everyday" , from your daily kitchen waste..

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Meet one such Sustainability Influencer, Manya Harsha, a 10 year old Environment Activist from Bengaluru is a 6th grader at Vibgyor High BTM Bangalore. While the entire world got locked indoors , Manya was busy Recycling the daily Kitchen waste into handmade Vegetable paper!

She kickstarted her experiments with "Every day kitchen waste to Each Paper a day!" being her simple mantra.

Have you ever heard of Onion Papers? Papers made out of onion peels? Garlic peels? Potatoe peels? Here is a 10 year old Young Environmental activist who during the Pandemic lockdown while the entire world was battling the deadly virus, Manya was busy paving a green path to the kitchen waste management.

"NOTHING IN THIS WORLD IS A WASTE , UNTILL YOU CONSIDER IT TO BE S WASTE" -Manya Harsha

Waste Management is one of the current crisis which every city, every country is facing. Especially in a country like India, with a huge population, Waste Management is an issue.

As we all know that recycling a ton of paper we can save 20 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, three cubic yards of landfill space and 30 kilograms of air pollutants?

Recycled paper reduces energy and helps stop deforestation.

"Born and brought up in Bangalore, I see the beautiful Garden city slowly turned down by heap Garbage dumped on the roadside and how the quantity of waste is increasing every passing day has been a matter of huge concern. Especially during the festive season, the market is full of flowers, veggies, fruits, mango-bannana plants. But post festival, the market turns out to be a dump yard of leftovers ! This scenario always had made me to think for a permanent solution as to how , the flower and plant waste can be utilized in an Eco friendly manner, " explains Manya about the reason for her innovation.

These colorful vegetable papers are just like any other handmade paper. You can , write, draw, paint, fold and create art out of it.Once you are done with these papers, you can put them back to the soil as fertilizers. They easily decompose.

Inspite of development of science and technology, at times even the most primitive methods turn out to be an eyeopener! This is what the young Recycler found in her kitchen..If you closely take a look into this project , its 0% investment. Instead you are creating WEALTH OUT OF WASTE !

Apart from this, at a very young age of 8, Manya took the lead in raising awareness for saving water through calling for a kids walkathon in the local community.

She distributed paper bags to local vendors, so as to reduce usage of plastic & raised awareness among the trading community regarding the ill effects of plastic to our planet. Manya has taken up many solo beach cleanup drives along with her family and encourages the youth of India to volunteer such events.

Disturbed over the mess created by tourists visiting the Markonalli Dam water bed in yediyur, Manya along with her father embarked on a mission to clean the area. She has been urging people to use dustbins and not to throw garbage in the lake. On this World Water Day ,UN WATER has also lauded the young girl’s efforts on their official Facebook page.

She has been honored with the THE WATER HEROES award 2020 by the ministry of JAL Shakthi for her contribution to spread awareness to conserve water.

Inspite of the lockdown and ongoing Pandemic scenario, Manya's nature friendy activities have never taken a set back.

Being the founder and editor at kids digital journal SUNSHINE FORTNIGHTLY, Manya has launched the #EachOnePlantOne Campaign inspiring more than 236 people to plant trees, including her friends , family, teachers, and to mention the Bengaluru police force( Rajajinagar Police station ) and the staff at Government hospitals.

Manya is an author of Five Nature themed books that showcase important Environment issues and call for the change.

Nature our Future, The Water Heroes, Once Upon A Time in 2020 , are some of her work. Being honored with title GRANDMASTER from Asia book of RECORDS, Manya has set the record as the YOUNGEST POET OF INDIA 2019 , in Vajra book of RECORDS, India book of Records, Golden book of Records, World book of RECORDS India, Exclusive world RECORDS, Karnataka ACHIEVERS book of RECORDS. Manya is the YOUNGEST KANNADA AUTHOR, with her books  Neerina Putani Samrakshakaru and Ondanondu kaladalli  2020 ( lockdown nenapugalu) making a huge name among the readers. Manya is also honored with the title YOUNGEST ANIMATED SHORT STORY MAKER, from India Book of Records for making animated short stories to spread awareness amongst the masses.

Manya has undoubtedly set an example for many young kids to use activism as a tool to drive climate change and work together for Climate action. At such a young age these are no ordinary achievements. She is a motivation, not just for other students but also for us, adults.

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