On Gandhi Jayanti, Green Pencil Foundation brought students from 15 Delhi University colleges together for a symbolic barefoot Padyatra, Yamuna cleanup drive and youth-led dialogue at Kalindi Kunj
New Delhi | 2 October 2026
On Gandhi Jayanti, the banks of the Yamuna at Kalindi Kunj Ghat, Delhi, saw nearly 1,000 young people come together for the Gen Z Yamuna Jal Chaupal 2026.
Organised by Green Pencil Foundation, the initiative brought together students, Eco Clubs, NSS units and youth organisations from 15 Delhi University colleges for a morning of environmental action, reflection and dialogue.
The programme was held from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM and centred around three key activities a symbolic barefoot Padyatra, a coordinated Yamuna cleanup drive and a youth-led Jal Chaupal.
The participating representatives included students associated with EnviSAGE, Haritashray, Paritantra, NSS ARSD, Green Brigade, Samvriti, Adveka, Aranya, Prithvi The Eco Club and NSS SRCC, WORK NGO , NSS Unit of LIC , NSS Unit of Dyal Singh College among others. The Gen Z Yamuna Jal Chaupal is also supported by the Eleven Eyed Productions ,Shop your Trip , Jagran Josh and The Better India.
A Barefoot Walk for the Yamuna
The morning began with a symbolic barefoot Padyatra towards the Yamuna.
Sandy Khanda, Founder of Green Pencil Foundation; Pankaj Kumar, Founder of Earth Warrior; and Hiba Khan, Founder of Hiba Green Foundation walked barefoot as a gesture of sympathy and solidarity with the river.
The walk was simple in form but carried a larger message that reconnecting with nature also means taking responsibility for protecting it.
“The barefoot walk was symbolic, but the feeling behind it was very real. We wanted young people to reconnect with the Yamuna and understand that protecting our environment is not somebody else’s responsibility. It is ours,” said Sandy Khanda, Founder, Green Pencil Foundation.
The Padyatra also marked a commitment towards developing a Gen Z-led Yamuna Action Plan and continuing a youth-led dialogue around the future of the river.
From Padyatra to Action
Following the walk, the participants took part in a cleanup drive at Kalindi Kunj Ghat.
The volunteers were divided into three teams to make the cleanup and waste handling more systematic.
One team collected dry waste, another collected wet waste, while the third team transported the segregated waste to the designated location for Municipal Corporation of Delhi pickup.
For the students, the activity was an opportunity to move beyond awareness and participate directly in addressing an environmental issue.
Priyanshu, representing EnviSAGE – The Environmental Society of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, said:
“When you stand beside the river and start collecting waste yourself, the problem becomes much more real. It makes you think about our own responsibility and the choices we make every day.”
The event’s participant list includes representatives from environmental societies, Eco Clubs and NSS units across several Delhi colleges.
When Students From Different Colleges Work Together
One of the strongest aspects of the Yamuna Jal Chaupal was the coming together of students from different institutions.
Rather than treating the cleanup as an isolated activity, the organisers encouraged participants to think about waste segregation, civic responsibility and the role of young people in environmental action.
Kartik Paliwal, representing NSS ARSD, said:
“Students from different colleges came together with one purpose. Environmental responsibility cannot belong to one organisation or one group. It has to become a collective effort.”
The event became an opportunity for students to work together beyond the boundaries of their individual colleges and organisations.
Recognising the People Who Showed Up
The organisers also made an effort to recognise the contribution of participating students and college organisations.
At the end of the programme, Certificates of Participation were given to all participants as a token of appreciation for their contribution to the Yamuna Jal Chaupal and cleanup drive.
Green Pencil Foundation also recognised the efforts of the participating college Eco Clubs and NSS Units. Sandy Khanda presented Letters of Appreciation to the representatives of each participating Eco Club and NSS Unit, acknowledging their efforts in mobilising students and supporting the initiative.
“Every young person who came today gave their time and energy to the Yamuna. The certificates and letters are a small way of saying thank you. The real recognition belongs to the students and the Eco Clubs and NSS Units that brought them together,” said Sandy Khanda.
A Small Refreshment After the Cleanup
After completing the cleanup activity, bananas were distributed to the participants as refreshments.
It was a small gesture of care for the young volunteers who spent the morning working at the riverbank.
For the organisers, the day was not only about asking young people to volunteer. It was also about recognising their effort and creating a sense of community around environmental action.
Taking the Yamuna Conversation Beyond Kalindi Kunj
The Yamuna Jal Chaupal was not intended to present a one-day cleanup as a solution to the complex challenges facing the river.
Instead, the initiative aimed to encourage students to take the conversation back to their colleges, Eco Clubs, NSS units and communities.
The participating representatives came from institutions including Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, Lady Irwin College, Acharya Narendra Dev College, ARSD, College of Vocational Studies, DSEU Dwarka, Dyal Singh College, Zakir Hussain College, Sri Aurobindo College WORK NGO and Shri Ram College of Commerce.
The larger message was straightforward: young people should not only be asked to care about environmental problems; they should also be given opportunities to act on them.
More Than a Cleanup Drive
The Gen Z Yamuna Jal Chaupal 2026 brought together three simple ideas connect, act and converse.
The barefoot Padyatra created a moment of connection with the river. The cleanup turned that connection into direct action. And the Jal Chaupal created space for young people to reflect on what comes next.
The initiative was organised by Green Pencil Foundation, with Jagran Josh as the Official Digital Media Partner.
For Green Pencil Foundation, the larger objective is to continue engaging Eco Clubs, NSS units, student communities and youth organisations in environmental action and dialogue around the Yamuna.
No single cleanup can solve the Yamuna’s challenges.
But when young people show up, work together, learn about responsible waste management and carry the conversation back to their campuses, something important begins a sense of ownership.
And that is the larger purpose of the Gen Z Yamuna Jal Chaupal.
Recognising Those Who Lead by Example
The Gen Z Yamuna Jal Chaupal 2026 was also a moment to recognise individuals who continue to inspire young people through their work for the environment and community. During the programme, Mr. Sandy Khanda, Founder of Green Pencil Foundation, felicitated Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Founder of Earth Warrior, and Ms. Hiba Khan, Founder of Hiba Green Foundation, for their valuable contribution and support towards environmental action and youth engagement. They were presented with books, notebooks and planters as a small gesture of appreciation.
Green Pencil Foundation also recognised the efforts of Mr. Aman Chouhan, Chief Coordinator of Gen Z Yamuna Jal Chaupal 2026, by presenting him with a Letter of Appreciation for his coordination, dedication and contribution to making the youth-led initiative possible.
These moments reflected the spirit of the Yamuna Jal Chaupal celebrating people who turn concern for the environment into meaningful action.
