 Early Times Report
DEHRADUN, Dec 8: Aligning itself with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and echoing Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of a clean and healthy nation, UPES successfully conducted cleanliness drives in three neighbouring villages of Bidholi, Kandoli and Paundha on 6 December 2025. The drives were supported by Waste Warriors - Uttarakhand’s leading waste collection, management & consultancy NGO in ecologically sensitive Himalayan regions and GS3 (Global Society of Social Soldiers) - a UPES students NGO mentored by Srijan Samarth Internship Team, UPES. The event waste management that brought together more than 160 volunteers with a passion to contribute to environment conservation.
The volunteer teams comprising of UPES students, employees and local community members began the drive with street-side waste collection and spreading awareness on waste collection, segregation and its responsible disposal to onlookers and passersby alike. The efforts of the volunteers resulted in collection of 108 bags of waste segregated category-wise for plastic, paper, glass etc. The collected waste was later transported to a Waste Recycling Facility located in Harrawala, Dehradun under the guidance of The Waste Warriors Team. The drives once again reinforced UPES’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable community engagement.
The locations for the Cleanliness Drives were identified in consultation with the Gram Pradhans of the villages, Sh. Chatar Singh - Gram Pradhan Bidholi; Smt. Komal - Gram Pradhan Kandoli and Sh. Shailesh Thapli - Gram Pradhan Paundha, for ensuring an impactful activity. Their support in mobilising residents and facilitating effective execution of the drive was very pertinent in contributing to its success. The village residents participation will surely encourage active participation of local citizens in future activities while also helping in building a shared sense of ownership towards keeping their villages clean.
The contribution of NGO partners Waste Warriors & further strengthened by the drives. Waste Warriors played a pivotal role by conducting training sessions for volunteers on safe waste collection, handling and segregation and providing essential materials such as gloves and collection bags. GS3 supported on-ground mobilisation and sensitisation, helping connect the effort with broader social responsibility initiatives led by UPES.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr Manish Madaan, Registrar, UPES, said, “For us at UPES, giving back to the community is a core part of being a true University of Tomorrow. Through initiatives like this carried out around our campuses, our ideas about sustainability and social responsibility become real – something you can see on the ground and feel proud of. We are thankful to the Gram Pradhans, their village residents, Waste Warriors, GS3 and each student volunteer who joined us in this drive. Together, we are keeping our villages cleaner and greener while shaping responsible citizens in the process.” |
