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As multiple projects threaten Madhya Pradesh's forests, environment campaigns, now led by GenZ, have sprung up.

Avijit Michael, who runs the activism-oriented NGO Jhatkaa.org, lives within a kilometre of Prakasapuram, with the forest on one side and a pear orchard on the other. For the most part, it is paradise, with deer, bison, and wild boar walking freely through his land. He built his cob house, Shaala, using clay and a mixture of sand and straw, in 2013, with help from a handful of art students from Bangalore and local workers from Prakasapuram. It is quiet, serene, and beautiful―until the wind turns.

Among those leading the campaign against the razing of the grasslands and the decimation of these species is Jhatkaa.org, a digital advocacy platform. Jhatkaa has successfully led numerous campaigns against key issues and towards realising their ‘vision of a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable India’.

Jhatkaa's online petition - #SaveThanoForest - to safeguard over 10,000 trees that are slated to be cut for Doon airport expansion has garnered over 70,000 online since December 2020 when it was launched.

On World Bicycling Day (June 3), a fresh campaign was started to make Bengaluru 'cycling-friendly' by BYCS and Jhatkaa, a campaigning organisation. The petition sought steps from the government and from citizens to make Bengaluru a haven for cyclists. These steps included declaring bicycle shops an essential service, shopping streets as walking or cycling only to provide space for physical distancing and to allow bicycles to move freely without passes even during a lockdown.

This is important and concerns our fellow, less privileged citizens. As part of the atma nirbhar package, 6000 crores were allotted to the tribals and forest dwellers. With the current Compensatory Afforestation Fund in place, all the money that is supposed to be used for the upliftment and benefit of tribals is unjustly and illegally transferred to forest departments. This leaves the tribals with neither land or money. Let us stand in solidarity for their justice.

A new video by Jhatkaa.org released on the 60th day (May 23) of India's lockdown, aims to get this message across. Titled #SaalBhar60, the video calls on citizens to participate in a nationwide digital movement on June 5 — World Environment Day by sharing photos demanding clean air for all.

To ensure that the air remains clean forever like how it is during lockdown now, a 12-year-old climate activist from Dehradun is launching a nationwide campaign. Campaigns manager at Jhatkaa.org Shikha Kumar says, “We have made strides towards acknowledging the severity of the problem as evidenced by initiatives like NCAP.

Ridhima Pandey was one of the 16 children alongside Greta Thunberg to petition the United Nations Climate Action Summit against the lack of government action on climate change in September last year. Along with Bengaluru-based digital advocacy organization Jhatkaa.org, Pandey released a 60-second video on Saturday as a part of the campaign - #SaalBhar60 - to ensure AQI is 60 throughout the year.

Srinivas also said with less number of long distance trains running, it is the best time to start suburban trains within city limits. Pawan also opined that this was also an ideal time to promote the usage of cycles especially for micro mobility needs. “Ideally we can make 50% of the roads for walking and cycling in all 2+ lane roads. We know where most of our offices or factories are, so we need to make those places very easily accessible through all these modes.” Nimisha, an activist with Jhatkaa.org also said there is a need to push for cycling. “Even before COVID-19, Bengaluru was not able to sustain the traffic. Cycling is the solution,” she said.

On March 23, the MoEFCC uploaded the draft Environmental Impact Assessment Notification (EIA) 2020. From excluding new industries that should have environmental clearance to reducing the number of public consultations, the draft EIA 2020 notification goes against the need of the hour to strengthen environmental laws and must be scrapped in its entirety.