A 20-year-old Indian has been walking across Asian countries – to generate awareness on plastic pollution. Rohan Agarwal, a resident of Nagpur under the Maharashtra state, has reached Bangladesh after walking 15,000 kms. He is a student of Government Sikkim Professional University in India. Rohan said he started walking from the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on October 24 in 2020. Read more: Plastics used in farming piling up in soil: UN After traveling to 27 states of his country, Rohan came to Bangladesh through Bilonia border in Feni on October 8, 2022. He visited Chattogram Hill Tracts and came to Chandpur on November 10. In Chandpur, he met the deputy commissioner, municipality mayor and journalists at the local press club and delivered awareness speech – on the dangers of plastic pollution – at several educational institutions of the district. “This is my journey to save the planet from plastic pollution. I came to Bangladesh from India and meeting many people along the way,” Rohan said. He said the world is not only for humans; animals and plants also share the planet. “So, you must be aware of the environment. It is the responsibility of all people.” Read more: Innovative, smart solutions must for plastic waste management: Tazul Islam “Wherever I go, I talk about the plastic pollution in public places, including schools and colleges. I tell everyone that they should protect the environment,” the youth added.

India will soon launch a $1.35 trillion national infrastructure plan that will boost the country’s economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Sunday as part of independence day celebrations, reports The Washington Post. Wearing a flowing bright saffron-colored turban, Modi addressed the nation from New Delhi’s 17th century Mughal-era Red Fort to mark the 74th anniversary of India’s independence from British rule. He said the infrastructure plan will create job opportunities for millions of Indian youth. Read:UAE flights: Indian Embassy working with authorities to address vaccination concerns, says envoy “It will help local manufacturers turn globally competitive and also develop possibilities of new future economic zones in the country,” he said. India’s economy, pummeled by the coronavirus pandemic, contracted 7.3% in the fiscal year that ended in March. Economists fear there will be no rebound similar to the ones seen in the U.S. and other major economies. In his 90-minute speech, Modi also listed his government’s achievements since 2014 and hailed India’s coronavirus vaccination campaign. “We are proud that we didn’t have to depend on any other country for COVID-19 vaccines. Imagine what would have happened if India didn’t have its own vaccine,” he said. India has given more than 500 million doses of vaccines but its vaccination drive has been marred by its slow pace. About 11% of eligible adult Indians have been fully vaccinated so far. Modi also said India was committed to meeting targets for the reduction of its carbon footprint. He said his government would invest more in electric mobility, solar energy and “green hydrogen” — which does not emit carbon dioxide — as part of its goal to make India energy independent by 2047. Modi began his speech by praising India’s athletes who took part in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics. India won one gold, two silver and four bronze medals at the games. Read:Over 2,000 evaluated as landslide blocks India river India celebrates its Independence Day a day after its neighbor Pakistan. The two separate states came into existence as a result of the bloody partition of British India in 1947. The process sparked some of the worst communal violence the world has seen and left hundreds of thousands dead. It triggered one of the largest human migrations in history and some 12 million people fled their homes. On Saturday, Modi announced that August 14 will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.