Everything Is Related

Ghazipur was a scarcely populated village. The government decided to make it a dumping ground for the garbage. Soon heaps of plastic and non-degradable materials piled up. When this pile got higher, they burnt it. The toxic smoke began to poison the environment there. Water in wells, ponds and lakes became contaminated. Their animals began to die. The drinking waters were polluted as well. The river shrank into a sewer. Soon due to shortage of water, to irrigate and seepage of toxic materials, the soil too would become infertile.

This alarmed the village sarpanch. It was time to act. Time to do something.

"Come soon Mom, we are getting late," Rohan called after her mother, who was the Ghazipur village sarpanch.

"Just let me pick up my seed balls Rohan!"

"Mom, why does everyone in our village secure fruit and vegetable seeds inside mud balls?"

"To throw them around on bare soil as we go."

"Why?"

"See Rohan, everything is connected. The rainy season shall start soon. By continuing to throw these seed balls on barren soil, some of these will sprout. We will take care that they do not get destroyed and live on to become trees. The roots of these trees will hold the water during rains and their leaves will absorb toxic smoke and chemicals. Maybe then our small village stops dying a slow death; maybe our rivers and wells fill up with fresh water once again.”

“That would be great mom! I will also ask all my friends to make these mud balls and take care of all the seeds that sprout.”