Nabarangpur: Whether it is a cremation ground, a memorial site, a temple, or a park, people often forget to clean these places after using them. However, a group of young volunteers from Icons in Motion in Nabarangpur have taken it upon themselves to clean and green these public spaces. Their efforts have become a topic of discussion in the town. What makes this group unique is that it has no formal leadership—no president, secretary, or officers. Instead, 42 young individuals work together informally to serve the community.
According to the group members, after funeral processions, family members leave behind clothes, bamboo stretchers, clay pots, and other items at cremation grounds, creating an unhygienic and unpleasant environment. Since no one takes responsibility for cleaning these places, they become dirty and polluted. Recognizing this issue, the Icons in Motion volunteers clean the cremation grounds and plant trees to create a greener environment. They also conduct awareness campaigns to encourage people to maintain cleanliness.
Since 2003, this group of 42 members has been actively working towards this cause. At the Indravati Cremation Ground, they have developed a Memorial Garden on 90 cents of land. They also take care of statues of great personalities by cleaning them and removing dried flowers and dust that accumulate over time. Faded statues are repainted and restored.
In various temples, they collect dried flowers and leaves left behind after rituals and use them to make organic compost. Recently, during Shivaratri, the group traveled to the Gupteswar Peeth in Koraput district and cleaned the area. The volunteers emphasize that they do not rely on external support but instead fund their activities through their own contributions.
Additionally, they have set up a book house at Madhubabu Park in the city, where children can access various books. Every year, the members voluntarily contribute ₹1,000 each, raising funds for these noble initiatives.