Kerala, India: A 69-year-old man, who is paralyzed below his knees, has been cleaning the largest freshwater lake of the country every single day for the last 6 years.

#Kerala's 69-year-old NS Rajappan cannot walk as he is paralysed below his knees; he uses his hands to move around. But every day, he ventures out in a small country boat to collect plastic bottles dumped into Vembanad lake. You are our hero, Rajappan.

Video credits: Nandu KS pic.twitter.com/FKHXYUu0j6

— The Better India (@thebetterindia) July 15, 2020

69-year-old N S Rajappan collects plastic waste from the Vembanadu Lake in Kerala every single day despite being paralyzed.

He uses his hands to move around.

It is reported that Rajappan hires a small country boat in the state’s Kottayam district every morning.

He would then collect plastic that is floating in the lake.

Rajappan says he usually finds plastic bottles that pollute the lake.

The elderly man suffers poliomyelitis, a disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system, and causes total paralysis.

During an interview with the press in India, Rajappan said:

I did whatever job I got. I couldn’t do regular, daily wage work as my health did not permit me. So I had to find small jobs suitable for me.

To survive in the hard times that life has forced him to be in, he sells the scrap that he collects from the lake.

Rajappan also talked about the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The elderly man says that pollution has dramatically decreased because of the strict lockdown measures that the country has imposed.

He said:

I am happy… that the waters are mostly clean now.

If you want to help Rajappan and his struggles in life, you can do so by donating.

Here is his bank information:

To support Rajappan financially, you can donate directly to his account. Details here:

• N.S
• Account No: 17760100068162
• IFSC code: FDRL0001776
• Fedaral Bank Kumarakom

A video of Rajappan was shared on Twitter, where people left a lot of grateful comments.

Here are some:

God bless you Rajappan Sir 🙏🙏🙏🙏 big salute and respect to your concern towards environment. Govt shoul complete ban on making of plastic and it's products.

— Surya Violin (@SuryaViolin) July 16, 2020

True Indian ,he deserve all indian civilian awards..
Jai rajappan…. from now onwords stop throwing plastics in to vembanad lake as well as any other water bodies….jai rajappan, jai hind❤️🌹

— nani (@MaheshKotrangi) July 18, 2020

No words . Rajappan Sir 🙏🙏🙏🙏 big salute and respect to your concern towards environment. I wish people realize the effects of plastic and join hands to make plastic free India. First thing complete ban on making of plastic and it's products.

— Pavan Amarnath Duvvuri (@pavanamar554) July 15, 2020

I wish these people were rewarded with civilian honors! Instead of some actors and actresses that are being rewarded these days…….

— GujjuGirl82 (@nnp091712) July 15, 2020

Thank you Sir, you are the reason why there is still hope in humanity.