Two friends revive 4 Ganga ghats in Rampur, inspire community clean-up drive

Rampur: Plastic waste has become an everyday sight in many Indian cities. Rivers and ponds often carry discarded bottles and wrappers, while public spaces slowly lose their charm under piles of litter. Cleaning up these places can seem like a task too big for any one person. But in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur, a group of young volunteers proved that change can begin with just two people willing to get their hands dirty.

At the centre of the effort is 23-year-old Akash Yadav from Patwai village. His determination has helped revive four Ganga ghats, remove over one tonne of plastic waste, and inspire an entire community to care for its surroundings.

After graduating from college, Akash was preparing for competitive exams. Yet every time he stepped outside, garbage strewn across roads, ponds and public places caught his attention. Even the sacred Ganga ghats had turned into dumping grounds.

Wanting to do something about it, Akash teamed up with his friend Rohan Dev. They first raised the issue on social media and approached local authorities, hoping action would follow. When nothing changed, the two friends decided to take matters into their own hands. Armed with garbage bags, they began cleaning public spaces themselves, returning every weekend to collect waste from streets and water bodies.

Many people questioned their efforts. “If the government couldn’t do it, what difference will you make?” they were often asked. But the friends kept showing up.Their consistency soon caught people’s attention. More young volunteers joined in, and with support from the Cleanup India Foundation, the initiative grew into the 15-member Cleanup Patwai team.

Over the past year, the group has revived four Ganga ghats, removed more than one tonne of plastic waste, restored ponds, cleaned parks and markets, and planted 1,000 trees across the region.

Perhaps the biggest transformation has been among the people themselves. Residents who once doubted the initiative now volunteer alongside the team, proving that positive action can encourage others to participate.

Today, Cleanup Patwai continues to organise regular cleanliness drives. The team is now seeking support in the form of grabber tools, garbage bags, rubber gloves, and fishing nets to expand its work.

Akash’s journey shows that solving environmental challenges sometimes starts with a few people deciding not to walk past a problem, and giving others a reason to join them.