Modi’s pat for Dadri youth pleasant surprise for village

Tribune News Service

Hisar, December 28

Residents of Jhojhu Kalan village in Charkhi Dadri district were taken by surprise when Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the name of Pradeep Sangwan, a youth of the village during ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday.

Pradeep, residing in Manali in Himachal Pradesh for many years, is a young environmentalist who has been working on a campaign — Healing Himalayas — to clear it of plastic waste from Himalayas for last five years.

Pradeep is a son of Suraj Bhan Sangwan, a retired Army personnel who is now pradhan of Sangwan Barah khap. He lives in Dadri town and has a residence in the village.

Gajender Singh, a panchayat member, said Suraj Bhan often visited the village, but rarely discussed the campaign of his son.

He said Pradeep, after initial schooling in the village, went with his father, who was serving in the Army. He said Pradeep was interested in the Himalayas and hilly areas and decided to stay in Himachal Pradesh to pursue his passion after graduation.

Dalbir Singh, sarpanch of the village, said the village was proud of the work of Pradeep, who had led a campaign against plastic to save the hills.

He said they had been inspired by him and wanted to start a campaign for cleanliness, especially against excessive use of plastic and polythene, in the village.