Webinar on Citizen Engagement for River Conservation

Government of India

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Government of India

Webinar on Citizen Engagement for River Conservation

January 19, 2026

About the Event

On 19 January 2026, the River Cities Alliance (RCA) organised a webinar titled Citizen Engagement for River Conservation – A Case Study of the Cleanup Ramganga Campaign as part of its ongoing knowledge series. The session highlighted the critical role of citizen participation in addressing the persistent challenges faced by rivers such as the Ganga and Ramganga, which continue to be impacted by pollution, unplanned development, and environmental degradation despite their ecological and cultural significance.

The webinar explored the journey of the Cleanup Ramganga Campaign as a case study in citizen-led river conservation. It demonstrated how structured volunteering efforts and sustained on-ground activities can reconnect communities with rivers and foster long-term environmental stewardship. The discussion emphasised the importance of moving beyond one-time awareness and cleanup drives towards sustained engagement, while also highlighting the complementary roles of local administrations, District Ganga Committees, and government agencies in enabling effective, people-led conservation efforts.

The campaign illustrated how citizen-driven initiatives can translate awareness into measurable environmental impact while strengthening community ownership of river ecosystems. The session was led by Mr. Kapil Kumar, Founder and CEO of Parivartan “The Change” NGO, who shared insights from his extensive work in environmental action. His initiatives include large-scale river cleanup drives removing over 1.25 lakh kg of waste, recycling more than 2 lakh kg of waste, providing free computer training for women, supporting the education of over 2,000 children, and facilitating more than 1,000 blood donation units, showcasing the broader social impact of community-led environmental initiatives.