Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) Online Strategy Meeting: Yamuna Cleanliness Initiative
15th July 2025
Dr. Anupam Dalal (NSS Programme Officer), Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurugram attended an online meeting for formulating the strategies of “Yamuna River Cleanliness Drive” on July 15, 2025. The meeting was organized by the Regional Coordinating Institute (RCI) of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), IIT Delhi.
The meeting was the outcome of the workshop held on May 30, 2025, which saw active participation from UBA Participating Institution (PI) Coordinators from all five strategic zones (Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida) and representatives from NCI and RCI IIT Delhi and Project Support Group (PSG) members across the Delhi-NCR region. The purpose of the follow-up meeting was to enhance coordination and streamline on-ground efforts for the Yamuna cleanliness initiative.
The primary objectives of the online strategy meeting were to:
Develop Ground-Level Strategy: Collaborate with all stakeholders to formulate practical and actionable strategies for the Yamuna cleanliness initiative.
Enhance Coordination: Strengthen coordination mechanisms between PI Coordinators and PSG members across the newly defined operational zones.
Plan On-Ground Actions: Facilitate detailed planning for specific on-ground activities within each of the five zones.
Establish Communication: Define clear communication mechanisms and reporting structures for smooth execution and progress tracking.
Encourage Public Participation: Discuss and finalize community engagement strategies to maximize public involvement in the cleanliness drive.
The meeting benefited significantly from the presence and valuable insights of senior UBA leadership - Prof. V.K. Vijay (NCI Coordinator, UBA.) He shared overarching guidance and the national vision for the initiative. Prof. P.K. Singh (Director, UBA.) He provided strategic direction and emphasized upon the importance of sustainable approaches and Prof. Parmod Kumar (SEG Coordinator, UBA. provided his expertise on matters of social engagement and environmental sustainability.
Their collective wisdom helped to shape the discussion and guide the development of a robust ground-level strategy.
The meeting focused on the critical discussion points to ensure effective implementation like community engagement strategies which included plans for awareness campaigns, volunteer recruitment drives, and involved local self-help groups and educational institutions. Strategies for seamless coordination between PI Coordinators and PSG members were discussed, participants engaged in detailed planning for specific actions tailored to each of the five zones (Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida). This involved identifying specific stretches of the Yamuna for intervention, allocating responsibilities, and setting realistic timelines. Clear guidelines were established for reporting progress, challenges, and successes. This included defining reporting frequencies, formats, and the channels for information flow between zones, RCI, and NCI.