Delhi: “If no one will do it, then I will definitely do,” says a RSS swayamsevak. Nature is not just an inheritance; it is a sacred heritage we pass on to future generations. It is our duty to protect and preserve it. With this vision, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi, inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), led a remarkable cleanliness and awareness campaign across 11 ghats of Yamuna river in Delhi on June 8, 2025.
What made this drive extraordinary was that people came on their own and not through official summons or advertisements. The drive also delivered a powerful message of green living and environmental accountability. Despite flowing through the national capital, the Yamuna River has suffered decades of pollution. Successive Governments have made tall promises, yet the reality has remained unchanged. Recognising that relying solely on Government action is not enough, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi took the lead.
The ghats that were cleaned by the Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi were Chhath Ghat (Loha Pul), Anandateet Yog Sadhana Kendra (No. 18), Chhath Puja Ghat (Geeta Colony), ITO Ghat, Preetam Dham, Nizamuddin Bridge Ghat (Yamuna Floodplain), Mayur Vihar Ghat (Yamuna Khadar), Pantoon Bridge, Signature Bridge, Zero Pusta (Sonia Vihar), Dhai Pusta, and Chautha Pusta (Sonia Vihar).
Message Oriented Mass Movement
The most important part of this drive was the inclusive participation—from doctors to chartered accountants, college students to eight -year-old children, all contributing their bit. A total of 2,123 people participated, including more than 200 women and over 158 youth. On the positive side, a total of 12.41 tonnes of waste was collected by the selfless volunteers. More than 121 NGOs, including RWAs, youth clubs, and schools, mobilised hundreds of volunteers at each ghat, showcasing the scale and depth of this mass movement.
Gopal Arya, Akhil Bhartiya Sanyojak, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi while speaking to Organiser said, “We must not see Maa Yamuna merely as a river, but as a symbol of our civilisation and culture. For this, we need to raise public awareness by choosing the path of alternative, not opposition, solution, not problem, and campaign, not agitation.”
Puneet Sood, Delhi Prant Sah-Sanyojak of Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi told Organiser, “Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi considers the Yamuna not just a river but a Mother, a sacred entity with immense spiritual and ecological value. The mission is to revive the Yamuna to its original form, where aquatic life thrives and humanity lives in harmony with nature”.
Beyond Cleanliness: Reviving Public Consciousness
“Our objective is to create awareness among people, because ultimately, it is our collective responsibility. We must align our lifestyles in a way that we release fewer chemicals into the Yamuna. At present, 18 drains flow directly into the river, of which nine release untreated water. This campaign is about building a public mindset, if our surroundings are clean, and if we live close to nature, we will remain healthy and lead a better life. If only one or two individuals make efforts, it won’t bring any change. The entire society has to come forward,” he said.
Pointing out that, this campaign is not a massive task, Puneet Sood said, “It is just a symbolic beginning. Our ultimate goal is to cover the entire 108-km stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi. It does not require extraordinary efforts, just a simple and sincere approach. Today, more than 2,000 people participated on 11 ghats. In the coming days, we expect more people from the general public, apart from swayamsevaks, to join this initiative”.
Addressing the issue of khandit murtis (damaged idols) being flown into the Yamuna or left under trees and roadsides, Puneet Sood said, “This is a sensitive issue. People need to be made aware that abandoning religious murtis at random places is not respectful. We are working in collaboration with organisations committed to the respectful restoration of such murtis. These murtis will be returned to their rightful place through proper rituals. By the end of this year, temples and religious places will become focal points of this campaign.”
Community-Driven Model
Another remarkable aspect of the drive was its decentralised model. There was no single control centre; instead, multiple teams operated independently across ghats, led by local swayamsevaks and volunteers. The Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi aims to activate teams along every 1 km stretch of the Yamuna through Delhi, making it a community-driven movement.
The Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi is sowing the seeds of a larger environmental renaissance, not just cleaning ghats but reviving collective responsibility. This Yamuna drive was not merely a one-day event; it was a declaration and an awareness campaign to remind people that protecting and preserving our rivers and environment is not just the Government’s job, it is a shared duty of the entire society.
