Surat: The Art of Living, under the guidance of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has launched its ambitious ‘EcoKranti’ campaign from Surat, with a mission to make India free from single-use plastics.
Spearheaded by the Sri Sri Rural Development Programme & Sustainability (SSRDP) in collaboration with the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), the initiative seeks to transform Surat — already recognized as one of India’s cleanest cities — into one of its greenest.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SSRDP and SMC was signed in Surat in the presence of Mayor Daxesh Mavani, SSRDP Director and Trustee Devang Vora, Art of Living District Development Committee Member Prakash Dhoriyani, and teacher CA Hari Arora. The ceremony was also attended by Surat BJP President Paresh Patel and SMC Standing Committee Chairman Rajan Patel.
The ‘EcoKranti’ campaign aims to eliminate single-use plastics, promote eco-friendly alternatives, and cultivate sustainable habits among citizens, entrepreneurs, and industries. As part of the launch, eco-friendly products worth over Rs. 10 lakh were distributed across more than 50 locations in the city, marking a significant step in Surat’s environmental leadership journey.
Mayor Daxesh Mavani said, “Environmental awareness is essential. Single-use plastics break down into microplastics that enter our bodies, causing severe health problems, including cancer. Plastic waste can take over a thousand years to decompose, while these eco-friendly alternatives biodegrade within six months. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s net-zero mission, SMC has undertaken this drive to support a cleaner, greener future. Surat is already India’s cleanest city, and we aim to also make it the greenest.”
Devang Vora, Director & Trustee of SSRDP, stated, “The partnership represents a practical and spiritual step towards environmental balance. Under Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision, we see sustainability not as a choice but as a responsibility. Our mission is to show that development and nature can coexist in harmony.”
The collaboration between SMC and SSRDP will focus on promoting eco-friendly initiatives, scientific waste recycling, and green innovation projects to accelerate Surat’s sustainable transformation.
Prakash Dhoriyani, District Development Committee Member of Art of Living, said, “With this initiative, we are empowering citizens to make sustainable choices every day. By refusing single-use plastics and adopting eco-friendly products, they can help safeguard both the environment and human health.”
CA Hari Arora, Art of Living teacher, added, “For true change, sustainability must become convenient. Through the EcoKranti mission, we are ensuring that eco-friendly products are widely available, affordable, and effective. We are confident the initiative will receive a very good response from the people of Surat.”
Beyond awareness, ‘EcoKranti’ seeks to establish Surat as a model city where smart innovation and harmony with nature coexist to combat climate change and plastic pollution.
The entire range of eco-friendly and sustainable products developed by SSRDP is available on platforms such as Amazon and Blinkit, making green alternatives accessible and convenient for consumers nationwide.
