India mobilizes citizens to revitalize coastline
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In India, the government and citizens are working together to clean up the country’s 11,098 kilometers of coastline.
For years, plastic waste and other pollution have accumulated along Indian shores, harming marine life and impacting the livelihoods of coastal communities. Starting around 2014, the Modi government initiated the Swachh Bharat Mission, aiming to transform cleanliness into a nationwide movement.
This effort expanded in 2022 with the launch of Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar, Clean Seas, Safe Coasts, a campaign that organizes annual coastal cleanups and encourages sustained environmental stewardship. What began as cleanups at 75 locations with the help of ocean research institutes has grown to include over 836 coastal locations and more than 100,000 volunteers, with participation from various ministries, organizations, and local groups like fisherfolk associations.
This year’s campaign features a week-long series of events, including cyclothons, marathons, and a human chain stretching along the entire coastline, alongside data collection to track progress. The initiative recognizes volunteers with digital certificates and uses technology to map cleanup efforts, making the data publicly available. Ultimately, the goal is to restore the health of India’s oceans and protect the economic and physical wellbeing of those who depend on them.
