From overcoming disability to helping people reduce plastic consumption: the top Social Stories this week

Social change comes in many forms. It does not have to be breaking news movements or Nobel Prize moments. Much simpler and smaller acts, which might only affect a few people, can have as much of an impact as larger actions.

Our stories this week reflect just that. We bring to you stories of people like us working to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable society.

Mumbai startup Ecosys is reducing plastic waste by producing eco-friendly cleaning solutions

Entrepreneur Sumit Goyal was on a visit to Mumbai for his CA internship when he visited Juhu Beach and saw plastic all over. He realised that plastic was not the problem; the misuse of plastic-based products was.

“I come from a family where there is no concept of single-use plastic. We never used to throw plastic bottles after use. Hence, when I visited Juhu Beach, I was shocked to see the situation. I understood that people here believe in use and throw,” says Sumit, who comes from Shrimadhopur in Rajasthan.

To tackle the increasing plastic waste issue, Sumit joined Prachi Bansal to establish Ecosys in 2018. The startup aims to introduce smart and innovative products, which help drive the goal of an eco-friendly and sustainable ecosystem.

6 ways to save natural resources

Rapid economic development, population growth, and urbanisation have all contributed to the depletion of our natural resources over the years.

Natural resources are pivotal to our everyday life. And while they are essential to our sustenance, not all of them are easily replenishable. In light of changing climatic conditions, it has become pivotal to protect non-renewable resources like fossil fuels.

SocialStory has combined a list of methods that can be implemented to protect these resources for future generations.

Meet Virali Modi who defied all odds to become a disability champion

When life brought gave troubles, 15-year-old Virali Modi didn’t lose hope. Her response to being paralysed was to bounce back and ace in the roles of a motivational speaker, model, and disability rights activist.

The year was 2006 when Virali began developing abnormally high temperatures after returning to the US, where she used to live with her parents. She had been on a brief trip to India.

However, things quickly deteriorated. The doctors' resolve may have been weakened by the inconclusive diagnosis, prompting them to remove her from the ventilator. Virali was paralysed from the neck down at first, but with time and numerous therapy sessions, she was able to regain upper-body mobility. She became depressed as a result of her isolation from family, friends, and society at large. But she didn't let that stop her.

These changemakers are connecting people with nature in innovative ways

There are many ways one can connect and create a positive impact on the nature around them. It can be anything—from showcasing your love through arts to adopting sustainable practices to involving in different drives to protect the environment.

We present to you a few personalities who are trying to create an impact on the environment in innovative ways. The list include Gunjan Shrivastava, who tries to communicate through her paintings, to architects Seema Anand and Prashant Dhawan.