Japan’s ‘ Mottainai Grandma ’ a picture book by Japanese publication, Kodansha, has come to India with the objective of promoting the ‘Clean India’ mission by creating environmental awareness among students.

School children between 9-12 years will take part in the activity and learn the values of cleanliness, use of resources and consciousness towards the environment. The inaugural session was conducted on Tuesday at the Girls Government Primary School in Manesar.

The story-telling sessions are being conducted by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd along with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The book is adapted in Hindi and English in collaboration with the National Book Trust (NBT).

“ Mottainai is a thoughtful Japanese word which means ‘Do not Waste’. The interactive method reinforces the age old practice of story-telling in India. With Mottainai Grandma , these students will retain the lessons for life. We are confident that this activity will strengthen our community development projects by driving behavioural change and contribute to the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission,” said Ajay Tomer, Executive Director, Corporate Planning, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.

“Among many things, Japan promotes the culture of cleanliness and respect for natural resources, which aligns with the concept of ‘ Mottainai ’ - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle plus Respect - are perhaps the most important values that Japan continues to contribute to the rest of the world,” said Kubo Eiji, Director, Private Sector Partnership Division and Finance Dept, JICA.

A caravan, a Maruti Suzuki Super Carry, loaded with over 300 books will accompany the story-telling troop as a mobile library. The troop will visit 30 schools in Delhi, Gurugram and Manesar.

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