18.3.3.2. CLEAN-INDIA

Deeply concerned with the deteriorating environmental situation in the country, Development Alternatives initiated the CLEAN-India (Community Led Environment Action Network) programme with five schools in the national capital in 1996.

The CLEAN-India program started in 1996 by Development Alternatives aimed to address the worsening environmental conditions in India. It began as a small initiative with just five schools in Delhi, focusing on community engagement in environmental action.

Think of CLEAN-India like a small community garden. At first, it started with just a few neighbors digging in soil together, but as word spread, more and more people began to join in, transforming a few plants into a whole garden full of flowers and vegetables that benefits the whole neighborhood.

Today, CLEAN Delhi has about forty schools regularly involved in monitoring water and air quality in over 150 locations spread across Delhi. Over 2000 children have been directly trained on environmental assessment and improvement activities.

The program has grown significantly since its inception, now involving about forty schools that participate in monitoring the environmental quality in many locations across the city. More than 2000 children have received training in environmental assessments, empowering them to actively contribute to environmental improvement in their communities.

Imagine a school club on environmental science where kids, like mini-scientists, learn about air and water quality; they become experts in their community, sharing their findings with families and friends to help everyone understand how to protect the local environment.

Action programmes like solid waste management, plantation drives, energy conservation, paper recycling, etc. to improve local environmental conditions have also been initiated by schools, resident welfare associations, business and industrial associations as well as individual households.

The CLEAN-India program catalyzes various community action initiatives aimed at enhancing local environmental conditions. These include solid waste management efforts, tree planting events, energy conservation activities, and paper recycling campaigns, all driven by a collaborative spirit among schools, local organizations, and individuals.

Think of a neighborhood potluck where everyone brings a dish to share; similarly, in CLEAN-India, different community groups contribute their unique strengths, such as planting trees or recycling paper, to create a more sustainable living environment together.

Campaigns against the use of polybags, firecrackers during Diwali and toxic (chemical-based) colours during Holi and for saving the city’s ‘Green Treasure’ are also carried out.

CLEAN-India also involves campaigns aimed at raising awareness and encouraging good environmental practices among the community. By addressing specific issues such as the reduction of polybag usage and promoting safe celebrations during festivals, the program seeks to instill environmentally friendly habits among residents.

Consider a community campaign like a school fundraiser: just as schools rally together to raise money for a good cause, CLEAN-India rallies the community to adopt positive practices, showing them that small changes can make a big difference for the environment.

The experience in Delhi indicates that when environment assessment is community-based, it mobilises the community to review the local environmental conditions and take requisite measures, without waiting for undue external support.

The success of the CLEAN-India approach in Delhi suggests that engaging communities in environmental assessments leads to active involvement and ownership in addressing local environmental issues. This local engagement creates a proactive attitude, where residents do not wait for outside help but instead take action themselves.

It's like a group of friends deciding to fix up a park in their neighborhood, rather than waiting for the city to come and help. When the community takes responsibility, the park not only gets cleaner but also becomes a cherished space for everyone involved.

Encouraged by the Delhi experience, NGOs from different towns have operationalised the CLEAN-India programme. The present CLEAN-India Centers are: Delhi, Shillong, Faizabad, Ladakh, Bangalore, Berinag (Kumaon Hills), Jhansi, Sagar, Bilaspur, Lalitpur, Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram.

The positive outcomes seen in Delhi inspired other NGOs in various towns across India to implement similar CLEAN-India programs. As a result, multiple CLEAN-India Centers have been established in diverse regions, each adapting the program to their local needs and challenges.

Much like a hit recipe that spreads from one family to another during potluck dinners, the success of CLEAN-India in Delhi has encouraged other towns to adopt the program, tailoring it to their unique local ingredients—a healthier, greener environment.

Almost 100 NGOs from across the country have expressed their interest to initiate the programme in their respective towns.

The enthusiasm and commitment to the CLEAN-India initiative is reflected in the interest shown by approximately 100 NGOs nationwide. This indicates a growing recognition of the importance of community-led environmental action and the potential for collaboration across different regions.

Imagine a book club where members from different neighborhoods each start their own chapter after seeing how enriching the discussions are in one location; similarly, NGOs are excited to share environmental action programs, creating a broader impact across the country.

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