Introduction
India is a civilisation shaped and sustained by its rivers. From the snow-fed streams of the Himalayas to the rain-nourished rivers of the Deccan and the life-giving waterways of the plains, hundreds of rivers flow across the land, nurturing soil, sustaining communities and shaping the spirit of the nation.
From the sacred Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati of ancient lore to the life-giving tributaries that irrigate vast farmlands, rivers are central to India’s economy, culture, religion and daily life.
For millennia, rivers have supported agriculture, powered civilizations, enabled trade and brought communities together regardless of region, language or belief. They are revered as sacred and integral to ritual, festival and spiritual practice, and form the emotional and economic backbone of millions of livelihoods across the country.
But today, many of these rivers are in crisis.
Clean River Model
The Clean River Model is an open-source theory of change for plastic-free rivers. It is comprised of three pillars and three enables. Through this model we aim to turn off the tap on new plastic pollution and clean up existing plastic pollution most effectively and cost-efficiently. Below you can find out how we implement our Clean River Model in Indonesia. For more information on the model, visit the Clean River Model page.
Empower people
Local awareness campaigns generate enthusiasm and make people see the problem so they can become part of the solution and change their behavior. Through educational programs, students and teachers are activated to become ambassadors within their families and communities. Local leaders are empowered to take ownership and anchor the change within their communities.
Prevent pollution
Reduce single-use plastics by promoting sustainable alternatives, implementing plastic reduction projects, and sharing knowledge & best practices. The deployment of accessible collection systems prevents plastic waste from entering nature. Riverine pollution is removed via cleanup actions and technologies. We recycle and repurpose recovered materials at their highest value and promote solutions for a circular economy.
Accelerate change
We generate data, provide insights, inform authorities on sources of river pollution, propose short-term remediations, promote structural solutions, and advocate policy change to accelerate change. We actively engage and collaborate within a network of like-minded organizations, both nonprofit and for-profit.
Assessment & Impact
We identified 3 enablers for the Clean River Model to increase our knowledge of the problem and show the impact we are making:
Assessment
We prioritize intervention areas based on potential impact, required effort, and scalability.
To design effective, river-specific action plans, we begin with a solid understanding of the problem—examining root causes, river characteristics, ecosystem services, ongoing interventions, and key stakeholders. This approach allows us to focus on early-stage interventions in the plastic lifecycle that empower communities, prevent pollution, and accelerate systemic change. It also forms the foundation for ongoing monitoring and impact evaluation.
Planning & Financing
Building on our assessment, we are developing a detailed, river-specific action plan to guide implementation and track progress.
This plan includes clearly defined KPIs to monitor and evaluate impact over time. Its goal is to ensure the successful execution of our Clean River Model by outlining targeted interventions, effective project organization, and risk mitigation strategies. Backed by data and insights from the baseline assessment, the plan also supports efforts to secure necessary funding and align stakeholders around a shared vision for cleaner, plastic-free rivers.
Monitoring & Evaluation
We track the progress and effectiveness of our Clean River Model interventions by regularly monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and evaluating outcomes against established baselines. This ensures we stay aligned with our goals, adapt where needed, and demonstrate measurable impact over time.
Our impact in India
- 82
- Events
- 3 168
- Warriors
- 16 684
-
kg waste
These stats contain Collected & Recovered trash
-
Collected= 0 kg
Recovered= 16 684 kg
Get Involved
Join a cleanup
Did you know that the River Cleanup community organizes cleanup actions all around the world, including in India?
In many cases, the organizers provide all the necessary equipment and guidance—you just need to show up and take part! Several times a year, we also host major global events such as World Cleanup Day, the #10minchallenge, and our monthly River Cleanup Days.
Click the “Join” button below to discover upcoming events in India and get involved!
Organize a cleanup
You can organize your own cleanup too! Whether it’s just you, a group of friends, colleagues, local schools, or community members, you get to choose the time, place, and how the event runs. For tips and guidance, check out our 'How to organize a cleanup' page - it’s easier than you think!
Ready to get started? Register your cleanup on our website so others can see it, join in, and celebrate your efforts. Don’t forget to upload photos and share your experience with the River Cleanup community!
Donate
You can make a one-off or monthly donation or organize a fundraiser, for example for your birthday, wedding or an important sport event. Your contribution enables us to achieve our mission by cleaning rivers, change behavior and transforming organizations.
Upcoming actions
Methi River Cleanup Drive
Cleanup Signature Bridge, 15/02/26
Organize a cleanup
Start by giving your cleanup a name and fill in your email address so that we can identify you or let you create an account in a later step.