Amid growing concerns around the world for the environment and future of the planet, an Indian Administrative Service officer from Uttarakhand is creating awareness about the need for adopting environment-friendly options in our daily life, and he is doing it in a simple but convincing way.
Mr. Basava Purushottam, a 2000-batch officer, has been cycling to office for the past two months, mostly giving his official government vehicle a pass. His small step with a big message is encouraging others, especially his office staff, to follow his example and contribute their bit for the environment.
POLLUTION IN DELHI
In talks with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Purushottam, who returned back to Uttarakhand from his central deputation in Delhi, said “During my central deputation in Delhi, I understood the ill effects of pollution as it was affecting my health, too. The environment in the capital is highly disturbed and, hence, it raises concern to take proactive steps to reduce it. In 2019, when I was posted in the Ministry of Finance, I started going to office in my bicycle. As the office was near my residence, I did not want to use a four-wheeler to travel.”
Mr. Purushottam was then transferred back to his home cadre as Secretary to Government of Uttarakhand. On the lines of the movement started by the Prime Minister on 5 June, World Environment Day, to adopt an environment-friendly lifestyle, Mr. Purushottam continued his practice of going to office on his bicycle in his home state, too.
A FIT LIFESTYLE
From Garhi Cantt to his office on Rajpur Road in Dehradun, he travels a total distance of 16 km both sides every day. He told Indian Masterminds, “The time difference while travelling in car and on bicycle is merely seven minutes. Earlier it used to take me 22 minutes to reach office on bicycle which I have now reduced to 19 minutes with practice.”
This change in his lifestyle is bringing a lot of advantages along with it. It not only helps in beating the office rush hour but also helps the environment and his physical health at the same time. He added, “Another thing I have noticed is that after having a morning ride to office, my mind is comparatively more active and fresher.”
Mr. Purushottam has a very organized lifestyle as he wakes up at 5 am daily and go for swimming which is followed by yoga. After finishing this routine, he rides 8 km to office on his bicycle every day. Apart from this, the officer also goes on long rides on weekends with other officers.
This is encouraging his staff members, as an employee at his office has started following the same practice. With Independence Day round the corner, a walkathon and a cyclethon have been organized where all the office members will take part, indicating the change in the office and in the employees’ mindsets.
Mr. Purushottam is now planning to surrender his government vehicle and, at the same time, also raise a request to develop cycling routes all over the city so that cyclists have ease of movement and can cover distances safely.
