Pune: As many as 12,000 students from 400 colleges affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Shivaji University, Solapur University and Maharashtra Health Science University will be participating in Nirmal Wari procession this year.

They will be joining both groups of Warkaris from Dehu-Pandharpur and Alandi-Pandharpur from July 3 to 30. 

At least 100 students will be deployed from 8 pm to 6 pm to keep a check whether they are using toilets or not. 

Students will also distribute leaf plates to Warkaris to have their meals.

As many as 20 lakh leaf plates have been kept ready by SPPU for the procession.

70 colleges and Gram Panchayat will be transforming the waste generated during the procession into organic manure, which the varsity will distribute among the farmers.

Every year around 200 students participate in the Wari procession but this year under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Internship, thousands of students will be participating in the procession to spread awareness about significance and necessity of clean and plastic-free 
environment. 

Around 60 groups of students will be performing street plays on the environment issue in both Wari processions from July 3 to 17. 

In the form of street plays, they will sensitise Warkaris about the negative impact of using plastic and thermocol, to use toilets and say no to open defecation, cleanliness and maintaining hygiene etc.

Students have been sensitised by their colleges about Warkaris and their behaviours. Since they have a different mindset, the students will be told about how to talk to these Warkaris, how to explain them about steps to be taken for creating an environment-friendly society and Swachhata without hurting their sentiments.