Attended an Independence Day trek. Big FAIL
I signed up for a trekathon this morning hoping to celebrate Aug 15 🇮🇳 peacefully in nature. Instead, it was an infuriating and sad display of zero awareness from the organizers and zero civic sense from the participants.
The organizers kicked off with a “warm up session” blasting music on speakers inside a designated wildlife sanctuary 😒 Forest guards stood right there and didn't even bother to stop them.
They brought a big group of people into a protected ecosystem and didn't mention a single word about trail etiquette, forest rules, or respecting wildlife. It was a massive wasted opportunity to educate attendees!! 🤦♀️
They also handed out packaged drinking water and refreshments, and as expected, people were throwing wrappers and bottles straight on the trail while waking in the forest!! I was picking up whatever I could, it was wrappers of the exact stuff the organizers handed out 🤬
People love to complain about the lack of CIVIC SENSE in our society, but civic sense isn't some abstract duty meant for invisible OTHERS!! It starts with individual accountability for each of us… If you are organising an event in a sanctuary, at least take basic responsibility for your group instead of turning a protected area into a circus.
TL;DR - Went for an Independence Day Trekathon in a wildlife sanctuary. Organizers played music on loudspeakers, handed out plastic without any briefing, and attendees littered on the trail while forest guards watched.