There are many ways to show you care about people and the earth than through material products. Here are some of them.

The festival of Diwali means showing appreciation for near and dear ones but material gifts like boxes of sweets aren’t the only method to sow a thought of care. Gift the people you love with your time and the gift of health instead and see their faces light up.

During this time, the city turns into a gas chamber and protecting people from the pollution is a duty we should take seriously. Gift your family and friends with PM 2.5 masks to make sure that they stay safe.The elderly need more care and adding plants to your indoors and restricting exposure to fumes of firecrackers are the perfect way to keep them well, according to Dr. Manreet Kahlon, COO IVH SeniorCare.

To boost their immunity, give them plenty of fluids and avoid fatty foods, more so, on the days prior to the festival. Besides, certain food items like apples, apricots, broccoli, walnuts, and beans contain a good amount of antioxidants and are good for lung health and immunity, he added. “Elderly are badly hit by the pollution demon every year. Hospitals register a rise in hospital admissions on account of respiratory diseases during this time. Most of the readmissions are on account of exacerbation of already existing respiratory diseases. Around 15 percent of our home care patients move to hospitals every year this time”, said Kahlon.

Gift the elderly with earplugs to keep noise pollution at bay, keep them indoors and instead spend time with them talking. The elderly seek company and this is the perfect occasion to make time from your busy schedules to ring in the festivity together. You can spend time at NGOs like HelpAge India and AgeWell Foundation to brighten up the days of senior citizens.  

There’s a large chunk of the population with no access to proper meals while most of us spend lavish amounts on food and gifts. Spend some time and money on feeding the under underprivileged. Contribute towards lighting up their homes instead of spending thousands on firecrackers that add to the rising pollution level in the city. Support a noble cause within your capabilities by donating what you can afford. NGOs that care for blind, deaf, orphans or autistic people need a helping hand and a contribution no matter how small will feel more fulfilling than spending it on firecrackers.

Corporate entities are also doing their bit to help NGOs.  HCL Technologies partnered with an NGO to set up festive stalls inside the campus and proceeds from the sales will be donated to HCL’s Power of One Initiative – a daily one-rupee donation program by HCL employees for social causes. E-commerce websites like Myntra and Jabong, brought in NGOs to conduct a Diwali Mela at the office while Signify India, formerly known as Philips Lighting India, is facilitating activities so that employees could donate clothes and monetary help for financing rural schools.

The corporate hub Worldmark Aerocity has created green walls for its three towers, made-up of over 2300 plants and 4000 creepers which include varieties such as croton, song of India, peace lily, dracaena, China palm, syngonium, aegloniyama, oriental lily, green disbud, dandela, bottle brush to help the inhabitants breathe freely.

It is up to you how you want to make the planet and your home brighter. You could be spending your money or your time, but with either make sure that every minute and rupee counts.

Writer: Team Viva

Courtesy: The Pioneer

There are many ways to show you care about people and the earth than through material products. Here are some of them.

The festival of Diwali means showing appreciation for near and dear ones but material gifts like boxes of sweets aren’t the only method to sow a thought of care. Gift the people you love with your time and the gift of health instead and see their faces light up.

During this time, the city turns into a gas chamber and protecting people from the pollution is a duty we should take seriously. Gift your family and friends with PM 2.5 masks to make sure that they stay safe.The elderly need more care and adding plants to your indoors and restricting exposure to fumes of firecrackers are the perfect way to keep them well, according to Dr. Manreet Kahlon, COO IVH SeniorCare.

To boost their immunity, give them plenty of fluids and avoid fatty foods, more so, on the days prior to the festival. Besides, certain food items like apples, apricots, broccoli, walnuts, and beans contain a good amount of antioxidants and are good for lung health and immunity, he added. “Elderly are badly hit by the pollution demon every year. Hospitals register a rise in hospital admissions on account of respiratory diseases during this time. Most of the readmissions are on account of exacerbation of already existing respiratory diseases. Around 15 percent of our home care patients move to hospitals every year this time”, said Kahlon.

Gift the elderly with earplugs to keep noise pollution at bay, keep them indoors and instead spend time with them talking. The elderly seek company and this is the perfect occasion to make time from your busy schedules to ring in the festivity together. You can spend time at NGOs like HelpAge India and AgeWell Foundation to brighten up the days of senior citizens.  

There’s a large chunk of the population with no access to proper meals while most of us spend lavish amounts on food and gifts. Spend some time and money on feeding the under underprivileged. Contribute towards lighting up their homes instead of spending thousands on firecrackers that add to the rising pollution level in the city. Support a noble cause within your capabilities by donating what you can afford. NGOs that care for blind, deaf, orphans or autistic people need a helping hand and a contribution no matter how small will feel more fulfilling than spending it on firecrackers.

Corporate entities are also doing their bit to help NGOs.  HCL Technologies partnered with an NGO to set up festive stalls inside the campus and proceeds from the sales will be donated to HCL’s Power of One Initiative – a daily one-rupee donation program by HCL employees for social causes. E-commerce websites like Myntra and Jabong, brought in NGOs to conduct a Diwali Mela at the office while Signify India, formerly known as Philips Lighting India, is facilitating activities so that employees could donate clothes and monetary help for financing rural schools.

The corporate hub Worldmark Aerocity has created green walls for its three towers, made-up of over 2300 plants and 4000 creepers which include varieties such as croton, song of India, peace lily, dracaena, China palm, syngonium, aegloniyama, oriental lily, green disbud, dandela, bottle brush to help the inhabitants breathe freely.

It is up to you how you want to make the planet and your home brighter. You could be spending your money or your time, but with either make sure that every minute and rupee counts.

Writer: Team Viva

Courtesy: The Pioneer