2025- A year of Young Changemakers Leading Pune’s Cleanliness Movement
One of the most inspiring highlights of this year has been the
increasing involvement of young volunteers stepping up and taking
responsibility for their city. At Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative
(APCCI), cleanliness activities have always been at the heart of our
work—beyond our day-to-day operations, actively engaging in large-scale
public cleanliness drives across Pune.
These initiatives include cleaning public spaces, riverbanks, areas around heritage sites, post-marathon clean-ups, and restoring cleanliness after major festivals. As we reflect on 2025, it stands out as a particularly special year, marked by meaningful participation and growing public awareness.
A Visible Shift in Public Awareness
This year witnessed a substantial increase in both the number of cleanliness drives and the volunteers who joined them. This growth clearly reflects a positive shift in citizens’ mindsets. People are no longer passive users of public spaces—they now want to actively contribute to maintaining their cleanliness and visual appeal.
Gone are the days when large events would leave behind heaps of litter due to lack of awareness. Today, event organisers—especially younger ones—are proactively approaching APCCI to partner with us as cleanliness collaborators, ensuring responsible waste management before, during, and after events.
Young Leaders Taking the Lead
The most refreshing development of the year has been the emergence of young leaders who are not just participating but leading cleanliness initiatives. What sets them apart is their approach—they are not satisfied with just action; they are keen to understand impact.
Sustainability as a concept is gaining strong traction among the youth. College hackathons, discussions, and innovation challenges are increasingly focusing on real-world issues related to waste management and environmental sustainability. These young changemakers want to know how their efforts translate into tangible results on the ground.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Clean Cities
As we move into 2026, we foresee larger and more meaningful conversations around waste management and cleanliness, especially on social media platforms. We anticipate even younger volunteers stepping forward, driven by purpose and awareness.
Pune is well on its way to becoming a model city for litter-free and sustainable marathons, setting an example for cities across the country. The shift from merely conducting cleanliness drives to measuring their long-term impact is a true gamechanger.
The future of cleanliness lies in informed action—and with young leaders at the forefront, 2026 and beyond looks promising.
---------Contributed by Malhar Karwande, COO, APCCI and Sathya Natarajan, Lead Volunteer, APCCI
These initiatives include cleaning public spaces, riverbanks, areas around heritage sites, post-marathon clean-ups, and restoring cleanliness after major festivals. As we reflect on 2025, it stands out as a particularly special year, marked by meaningful participation and growing public awareness.
A Visible Shift in Public Awareness
This year witnessed a substantial increase in both the number of cleanliness drives and the volunteers who joined them. This growth clearly reflects a positive shift in citizens’ mindsets. People are no longer passive users of public spaces—they now want to actively contribute to maintaining their cleanliness and visual appeal.
Gone are the days when large events would leave behind heaps of litter due to lack of awareness. Today, event organisers—especially younger ones—are proactively approaching APCCI to partner with us as cleanliness collaborators, ensuring responsible waste management before, during, and after events.
Young Leaders Taking the Lead
The most refreshing development of the year has been the emergence of young leaders who are not just participating but leading cleanliness initiatives. What sets them apart is their approach—they are not satisfied with just action; they are keen to understand impact.
Sustainability as a concept is gaining strong traction among the youth. College hackathons, discussions, and innovation challenges are increasingly focusing on real-world issues related to waste management and environmental sustainability. These young changemakers want to know how their efforts translate into tangible results on the ground.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Clean Cities
As we move into 2026, we foresee larger and more meaningful conversations around waste management and cleanliness, especially on social media platforms. We anticipate even younger volunteers stepping forward, driven by purpose and awareness.
Pune is well on its way to becoming a model city for litter-free and sustainable marathons, setting an example for cities across the country. The shift from merely conducting cleanliness drives to measuring their long-term impact is a true gamechanger.
The future of cleanliness lies in informed action—and with young leaders at the forefront, 2026 and beyond looks promising.
---------Contributed by Malhar Karwande, COO, APCCI and Sathya Natarajan, Lead Volunteer, APCCI
