River of dreams: Delhi schools wade into Yamuna clean-up, campaign will run from July to March

Time of India

2 days ago

New Delhi: In an initiative to involve young minds in environmental conservation, the directorate of education has launched a nearly year-long awareness campaign, Maa Yamuna Swachhta Abhiyan — A Clean Yamuna Awareness Campaign.
It aims to sensitise and educate school students about the importance of cleaning the Yamuna and actively involve them in environmental conservation efforts.
The campaign, which will run from July 2025 to March 2026, includes a series of interactive and creative school-based activities. DoE has also encouraged schools to collaborate with their respective National Service Scheme (NSS) units and engage with Delhi Jal Board and local education officials to organise talks, presentations and awareness sessions.
Schools are expected to report their activities on a monthly basis. The campaign aims to educate and inspire students across Delhi schools about the pressing need to clean the Yamuna river and actively engage them in efforts to protect the environment.
Proposed by Delhi education minister Ashish Sood and supported by the directorate of education, the campaign will unfold as a series of structured activities and events spread over several months.
As per the circular issued, these activities will include essay writing competitions in July 2025 to express the significance of a clean Yamuna, followed by drawing and painting contests in Aug that will encourage students to creatively depict the river's plight and beauty.
In Sept, schools will host speeches, debates and skits focusing on water pollution and conservation.
The awareness drive will peak in Oct with 'Clean Yamuna' pledge drives and awareness walks, allowing students to step beyond classrooms and take a more visible role in advocating for the river's revival.
Additionally, schools will be encouraged to organise cultural programmes related to the Yamuna during their annual functions, providing a platform to further reinforce the message of ecological responsibility through music, dance and drama.
To ensure the smooth execution of the campaign, DoE has asked schools to collaborate with their local NSS units. Schools may also partner with Delhi Jal Board and other education department officials to host motivational talks, presentations and interactive sessions, further enriching the educational experience for students.
Monthly reports of all conducted activities—along with photographs and short videos—are to be compiled and submitted by the schools' physical education teachers to the directorate. A structured reporting format has been provided, which will help track the participation of schools, the number of students involved, and the visual documentation of events.
"With this initiative, Delhi govt not only seeks to instil environmental awareness among students but also empowers them to become active agents of change. Maa Yamuna Swachhta Abhiyan stands as a beacon of civic engagement, creativity and education, proving that the path to a cleaner future can begin in school corridors and lead all the way to the banks of a once-glorious river," said an official.