UP schools to develop students as cleanliness ambassadors through Ganga campaign

Lucknow

In a bid to instill civic responsibility and environmental stewardship at an early age, the Uttar Pradesh government plans to introduce students from secondary schools into its cleanliness drives under the “Ganga Swachhata Abhiyan.”

Under guidelines released by the state’s Secondary Education Department, schools will now integrate cleanliness and water-literacy modules into their existing curriculum. Designated as “cleanliness ambassadors,” students will participate in field trips to rivers, ponds, and local communities to study water conservation practices, particularly focused on the Ganga river and its tributaries

The initiative also ties into the national “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” campaign, which aims to enhance students’ understanding of India’s cultural, historical, and geographical diversity. Schools have been tasked with designing plans to observe major environmental days, such as World Environment Day, and will conduct cultural, literary, and sporting events promoting sustainability.

Program highlights include hands-on activities like river cleanup drives, interactive workshops on water-saving technologies, and collaboration with local NGOs and water authorities. Students will also use local observations to craft reports and presentations, fostering experiential learning and civic engagement.

Officials say the overarching goal is multi-fold: nurture environmental consciousness, foster national pride, and build proactive citizenry. “Teaching responsibility early will ensure long-term behavioural change,” said a department spokesman .

This move by Uttar Pradesh places it among several progressive states aligning school curricula with sustainability goals outlined in India’s water mission and Swachh Bharat campaigns. If implemented effectively, the program could serve as a scalable model for other states aiming to embed environmental ethics in primary and secondary education.