Plogging is where Swachh Bharat meets Fit India

‘Plogging’ is a combination word formed from ‘jogging’ and ‘plocka upp’, which is Swedish for ‘pick up’.

Recently, during his morning walk on a beach in Mamallapuram, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen picking up plastic litter, bottles and other items. He later tweeted, “Plogging at a beach in Mamallapuram. It lasted for over 30 minutes.”

So what exactly is Plogging?

‘Plogging’ is a word formed by combining ‘jogging’ and ‘plocka upp’ (meaning ‘pick up’ in Swedish). So while jogging or brisk walking, you also pick up litter on the way, thus keeping the environment clean and also taking care of your fitness.

‘Plogging’ is an emerging international trend; it was started by Erik Ahlström in Sweden in 2016. While commuting to work, Ahlström would often come across litter that would remain on the streets for weeks without anyone picking it up. Thanks to social media and word of mouth, ‘Plogging’ is now an international movement involving both fitness and environmental enthusiasts. As per Ahlström, plogging for half an hour burns more calories compared to regular jogging.

Ripu Daman Bevli, popularly known as the Plogman of India, runs an initiative Ploggers of India that is on a mission to make India “litter free”. On his Facebook page, Daman was quoted saying that he wants to make “cleaning up other people’s shit the coolest thing to do in India”.

PM Modi, who is a big supporter of Swachh Bharat and Fit India movements, has urged Indians to start plogging for a litter-free India.

I guess its time we all learn to “leave only our footprints, and not carbon footprints”.