Udupi, A.23 – On Friday a three‑day social campaign named “Nadige” began at the campus of EG M College, aiming to transform good‑quality used shoes into new footwear for underprivileged children.
The inaugural ceremony featured a tribute to the late Khan Bahaddur Haji Abdullah Saheb, while the revered spiritual leader Rev. Fr. Dennis Dasa of the Udipi Shoka Mata Igarji blessed the event and officially launched the drive.
Shriyans Bhandari, co‑founder of Mumbai‑based GreenSoul, addressed the gathering, confirming that a substantial stock of shoes has already been gathered for cleaning, up‑cycling and donation. He highlighted that the initiative has been active for ten years, emphasizing mutual help and compassion as its core message.
Avinash Kamat, the organiser, explained that all shoes collected during the three days will be shipped to GreenSoul Foundation in Mumbai, where they will undergo an up‑cycling process before being distributed free of charge to children in need across the country. As of the launch, 6,000 pairs have been received.
Prominent community figures, including senior social worker Vishwanatha Shenai, Janaata Group director Rakshit Kunder, Manipal HPR Group chair Hariprasad Rai, college principal Dr Gayatri Pai, and vice‑principal Dr M. Vishwanath Pai, extended their best wishes. Lecturer Sujit Kotyan acted as the programme host.
Bhandari also announced an ambition to break the Guinness World Record for shoe collection. The current record, set in the United States, stands at 16,000 pairs. Organisers aim to surpass 20,000 shoes in Udupi, a milestone that would secure a place in the record books.
Looking ahead, volunteers plan to travel to rural villages next year, delivering shoes directly to children with their own hands, thereby extending the impact of the “Nadige” campaign beyond mere collection.
Image: varthabharati.in
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati Udupi