Indraxi Kanjilal on World Environment Day: People need to take responsibility to keep their surroundings clean

Time of India

3 days ago

On the occasion of
World Environment Day
, actress Indraxi Kanjilal, known for her role as Prarthana in Pushpa Impossible, opened up about the urgent need for collective responsibility when it comes to the environment.
Sharing her observations and frustrations, Indraxi stressed that the real solution lies in basic awareness and individual accountability.
'I think people themselves need to be aware and take responsibility for where they throw their garbage. That's the only real way to keep things clean,' she said.
Recalling a recent experience, she shared, 'I recently visited a beach near Kolkata, which is one of the most popular beaches.
The government has already declared that throwing garbage around is illegal and anyone caught doing it will be fined. The people there were actually very careful. The beach had dustbins placed everywhere—two types of bins for different types of waste. I think that's exactly how it should be.
'
For Indraxi, it's a combined effort between citizens and the government that can bring real change.
'At that beach, I saw how seriously everyone was taking this.
There were dustbins at every 10 steps, literally. It was very well managed. I believe both people and the government need to be alert and responsible. Only with public awareness and strict government action can we manage waste properly.'
However, her hope dims when it comes to air pollution, a growing threat we encounter every day.
'Air pollution is caused by things we use every day—air conditioners, cars, trucks. These things can't just be stopped.
You can't tell people to not use ACs or cars. Even if you tell them to be cautious or use public transport, most won't listen,' she lamented.
Reflecting on years of hearing the same advice in school, Indraxi questioned whether people ever truly take action.
'Since I was a child, I've heard teachers and guests talk about reducing pollution—use public transport, save electricity. But hardly anyone follows it. People say all the right things, but the real question is: are we even listening?'
With a tinge of sadness, she concluded, 'The damage is already done.
Things will only get worse. The number of cars, electric vehicles, and machines that emit harmful gases is increasing. Honestly, I don't think anything can really fix it now.'
However, she adds that the buck stops at us. 'As someone who lives on this Earth, I feel it's my duty to take care of our planet. I believe it's important to keep the Earth healthy and do whatever I can to avoid polluting my country and the world. So yes, I try to follow good habits every day.
I don't waste water. I always separate wet and dry garbage. That's the most basic thing we all should do. I avoid using plastic as much as possible.
And even if I do use it, I make sure not to throw it around carelessly. Plastic should be thrown in proper places because it harms the environment. Also, I make sure not to waste electricity. That's another basic but very important thing. Overall, I always try my best to protect the environment and do whatever little I can to make a difference.'