Vayu Mitra Campaign Launched Against Air Pollution
Lucknow: To raise public awareness about the increasing air pollution in the country and the serious health problems arising from it, the “Vayu Mitra Campaign” has been launched. Dr. Surya Kant, Head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, has been entrusted with the important responsibility of serving as the National Convener of this campaign. Recognizing clean air as the right of every citizen, the campaign aims to achieve the goal of “Clean Air – Healthy Life” through public participation, awareness generation, behavioural change, and policy support. It may be noted that Dr. Surya Kant has been assigned the responsibility of National Convener of the Vayu Mitra Campaign under the Lung Care Foundation and Doctors for Clean Air and Climate Action.
Dr. Surya Kant, National Convener of the Vayu Mitra Campaign, stated that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for nearly 7 million premature deaths globally and around 2 million premature deaths in India every year. Several Indian cities are among the most polluted cities in the world, with alarming levels of fine particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10. Many cities in Uttar Pradesh are also facing this challenge. He emphasized that air pollution is not merely an environmental issue but a serious public health disaster.
He explained that the major sources of air pollution include vehicular emissions, industrial activities, dust from construction work, stubble burning, biomass fuels, and smoking. In rural areas, the use of traditional fuels such as wood, cow dung cakes, and coal contributes significantly to household air pollution, while in urban areas, rapid urbanization and the increasing number of vehicles are major causes.
Highlighting the importance of the Air Quality Index (AQI), Dr. Surya Kant stated that it helps citizens understand air quality levels and the associated health risks. According to AQI standards, air quality is categorized as Good (0–50), Satisfactory (51–100), Moderate (101–200), Poor (201–300), Very Poor (301–400), and Severe (401–500). The higher the AQI level, the more serious its adverse impact on health. He appealed to citizens to regularly monitor the air quality in their area and take necessary precautions accordingly.
Dr. Surya Kant further explained that air pollution affects every organ of the human body. Emphasizing the dangers of fine particulate pollutants such as PM2.5, he said that suspended particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), smoke, chemical gases, and toxic substances present in the air enter the lungs and lead to serious diseases. Health conditions such as allergies, asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumonia, lung cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, neurological disorders, depression, liver diseases, tuberculosis (TB), and immune system-related disorders are more commonly observed in polluted environments. Air pollution is responsible for 43 percent of deaths due to respiratory diseases and contributes to one in every four deaths caused by heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.
Dr. Surya Kant stated that air pollution has become one of the biggest public health challenges facing the world today. He pointed out that a human being can survive for three weeks without food and three days without water, but not for more than three minutes without clean air. An individual breathes approximately 25,000 times a day, and nearly 10,000 litres of air pass through the lungs daily, providing around 500 litres of oxygen, which not only keeps us alive but also provides the energy required for daily activities. Therefore, air quality has a direct impact on human health.
The objective of the Vayu Mitra Campaign is to make citizens aware of the importance of clean air and a healthy environment. The campaign encourages people to learn and educate others, share their ideas, and spread the message of environmental conservation to every household. Every Vayu Mitra is expected to become aware and motivate family members, friends, and society to join the campaign. In addition to tree plantation, special emphasis is being placed on the regular care and monitoring of planted saplings. The message of the campaign is that every citizen should remain actively involved throughout life and contribute towards building a cleaner, greener, and healthier future by connecting more and more people to this cause.
Dr. Surya Kant, National Convener of the Vayu Mitra Campaign, stated that clean air can be achieved not only through government schemes but also through active public participation. The campaign aims to make every citizen a “Vayu Mitra” and an active stakeholder in the solution.
Dr. Surya Kant, National President of the Organization for Conservation of Environment and Nature (OCEAN), emphasized the need to make environmental conservation a part of everyday lifestyle. It is noteworthy that under his leadership, several programmes such as tree plantation drives, development of green zones, establishment of herbal parks, creation of Navagraha Vatikas, and sapling distribution initiatives are being conducted in various institutions. He has also been promoting the practice of presenting saplings instead of flower bouquets during ceremonies as an effective step towards environmental conservation.
Dr. Surya Kant appreciated several government initiatives, including the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), PRANA Portal, Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), and *“Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, stating that these programmes have made significant contributions towards promoting clean energy and environmental protection.
In conclusion, Dr. Surya Kant appealed to citizens to plant more trees, increase the use of public transport and electric vehicles, avoid smoking, adopt clean household fuels, plant trees on every auspicious occasion, and embrace an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. He stated, “Inspired by Nature, working for the Climate, we can secure our Future.” He urged all citizens to join the Vayu Mitra Campaign and contribute towards building a nation with clean air and better health for all.
