Meghalaya IAS officer walks 10 kms every week to buy local vegetables & fruits, earns praise from netizens

Shillong: The Deputy Commissioner of Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district follows a fixed routine when it comes to buying local produce. While the weekly chore may seem a little monotonous, it involves a lot of walking.

Ram Singh walks 10 kilometers to a local market every week to buy fruits and vegetables.

The purpose of his long walk is to remain fit and inspire others to follow a healthy lifestyle.

Unlike other shoppers, Ram Singh carries all fruits and vegetables in a bamboo basket, instead of plastic or paper bags. Being an enthusiastic supporter of a green environment, Singh only buys organic produce, that also helps in the growth of local farmers.

In an interview to East Mojo, Singh said he wanted to set an example for other people. He also said the long-term traffic issue in Tura can be dealt with by walking to the market.

“Many complained that it was difficult to walk carrying loads of vegetables. I had suggested them to carry ‘Kokcheng’ (a local bamboo basket) which would even help fight the plastic menace. But they just laughed it off. So my wife and I headed to the market carrying the bamboo basket which I found it to be very helpful,” Singh told the news website.

In one recent Instagram post, Singh wrote he carried 21 kilograms of organic vegetables without using any plastic or paper bags.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21kg of organic vegetables shopping, No plastic, No vehicle pollution, No Traffic jam, Jikse Jikse Morning walk.. #fitindia #fitmeghalaya #saynotoplastic

A post shared by Ram Singh (@ram.singh.7564) on Sep 20, 2019 at 9:23pm PDT

 

Besides his weekly walks to the market, Singh has also banned the distribution of sweets in his workplace.

If al this is not impressive enough, the Deputy Commissioner has no qualms about travelling to places on a shared tempo.