Warrior Moms, a new environmentalist group

Aditya Anamey Das

October 29, 2020

Warrior Moms unite against the rapidly spreading air pollution

(Image Source: National Geographic)

Mothers across India have taken a stand against air pollution by joining ‘Warrior Moms’, an environmentalist group launched on 7th September on the eve of the very first international day of clean air. ‘Warrior moms’ consists of middle-aged women spread in major cities across India like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. They demand cleaner and healthier air for the coming generations. Due to the travel restriction caused by COVID, the group has been operating mostly via social media.

‘Warrior Moms’ was perceived as a breath of fresh air in the middle of a smog-enveloped country. India has the highest number of pollution-related deaths in the entire world, whereas children below five are the worst affected by air pollution in the nation. 13 of the 17 most polluted cities with the highest particulate matter concentration in the world are located in India whereas the most air-polluted city in the world, Kanpur, also falls in India. We are globally notorious for our horrible air quality so much so that international tourists are advised to wear pollution-free masks in most of our major cities.

'Warrior Moms' aims to spread awareness about the harms of air pollution in order to convince the policymakers into making stricter laws regarding air pollution. This group mostly comprises of mothers who worry about the safety of their kids in the midst of all the smoke and dust. In an interview with the Indian Express, Hema Chari Madabhushi, a member of ‘Warrior Moms’ from Pune said, “Policymakers don’t realise how this menacing threat affects children on a large scale, but I know my child suffers daily due to air pollution. It is time the government takes action.”

“Come July, and my kids would start wheezing, catch allergies if they are out for too long. Unlike bad water and polluted grounds, the effects of polluted air are not immediately visible. This pandemic has also proven that people who have respiratory issues find it hard to cope with the infection. It’s high time we fight for better breathing rights for our future generations,” said Bhavreen Kandhari, also a member of ‘warrior moms’ from Delhi.

Sources: (Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, NDTV)

Edited by: Aditya Das and Shreya Gupta