#TGLife
Agreed that most of the ‘challenges’ coming up on the Internet are quite crazy and useless in the long run, but the recent challenge promises to be different. Trashtag Challenge is an emerging concept where people are cleaning up trash from dirty places, and posting ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures.
The trend ticks all the right boxes: Originated and became viral first in US, and then began to be picked up around the world including India. An outdoor lighting company UCO had launched the Trashtag project as a promotional campaign to encourage people to pick up trash while they were out in the wild. While the challenge died out eventually, in early March 2019, Bryon Roman, an American relaunched the cleanup challenge on social media under the hashtags #Trashtag and #BasuraChallenge.
‘Here’s a challenge for all you bored teens,’ Roman wrote on Facebook. Take a photo of an area that needs some cleaning or maintenance, then take a photo after you have done something about it, and post it,’ he added. The post was shared over 3 lakh times. Within a week, thousands of supporters from across the world joined in and posted their pictures.
Given the Swachh Bharat programme, public discourse on cleanliness or turning it into an Internet trend is not new to India, and the country picked up this challenge also which much enthusiasm. People from Ahmednagar in Maharashtra to Dimapur in Nagaland are taking up this challenge, but not the Goans. Goa seems to be immune to most trends doing rounds on the Internet, but this is a positive trends that goes a long way in contributing towards cleanliness. Why not take it up?
There are many reasons for this,” says Anita Kavlekar, a social activist from Ponda. “Firstly, our way of using the Internet is different from the places where this challenge originated and spread. Secondly, given the Swachh Bharat abhiyan and many other initiatives taken by a number of people and NGOs on the ground, I do not think it would be so big in India or Goa.” Kavlekar also notes that response to such campaigns from the youth tends to be erratic. “When we organise workshops or short campaigns in colleges, the youth participate energetically, but they will not stick to the path for long term. Only about 20% you the youth will work consistently towards achieving big cleaning goals. This challenge too may not stand the test of time,” says Anita.
Margao-based activist Prashant Maurya also underlines issues with such social media challenges. “Many times, people participate in cleaning drives just for the sake of showing off. They will post pictures and videos on social media, but will not keep up with the work after the spotlight has faded. Secondly, many of us are rather indifferent to the importance of clean surroundings. Selfishness, short-sightedness, lack of will are some of the issues among our people that need to be addressed,” states Maurya.
It may not stay around for long, but it is nice to have a positive ‘challenge’ trending for a change, and we do hope it inspires young people to roll their sleeves up and strive for cleaner and greener surroundings.
