Mumbai, November 29, 2025 – The Vivekanand Education Society Institute of Management and Research (VESIM), in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES) of the All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG) to host the 1st edition of the November phase of the mission-driven youth engagement programme under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) at its campus. The event encouraged young minds to share their thoughts and become part of this environmental movement. Centered around the theme “Green Living, Better Tomorrow,” the initiative saw enthusiastic participation from numerous students. It aimed to mobilize Mumbai’s youth as active agents and ambassadors for sustainable urban living and clean air. The programme specifically addressed the city’s key air quality challenges; such as vehicular emissions, construction dust, and waste burning, by fostering behavioral change and promoting local innovation among young citizens.
The event at VESIM served as an interactive platform for youth-driven climate action, blending creativity, collaboration, and practical learning. A key highlight of the initiative was a dedicated tree plantation drive, where students, faculty, and staff came together to plant saplings across the campus, reinforcing the message of building a greener, cleaner environment through hands-on action. Complementing this, activities such as the Green Ideas Competition, Eco Talks by Peers, The Reel Challenge: My Green Hack, ‘Ideas to Action’ exhibition booths, a Clean Air Pledge Zone, and short film screenings were conducted in brief, engaging formats to inspire everyday sustainable practices among students. These collective efforts embodied the sub-themes ‘My Eco Campus, My Responsibility’ and ‘Power of Change: From Classroom to Clean Air,’ encouraging participants to move beyond discussions and actively contribute to cleaner air and a more sustainable campus.
“We were happy to host this critical phase of the NCAP youth programme,” said Vijay T. Raisinghani, Vivekanand Education Society’s Institute of Management Studies & Research (VESIM), “such initiatives strengthen youth participation in building a cleaner, healthier Mumbai.”
On this, Pradip Kumar Mitra, Dean, Vivekanand Education Society’s Institute of Management Studies & Research (VESIM), added, “Through the National Clean Air Programme, we are proud to engage our students in a mission that goes beyond classrooms and into the heart of community impact. Clean air demands collective action, and this initiative encourages young citizens to become ambassadors of sustainability. At VESIM, we remain committed to nurturing environmentally responsible leaders for a healthier tomorrow.”
Dr. Ajit Salvi, Director, RCUES of AIILSG, Mumbai, in his keynote address, said, “Air pollution has become a pressing concern for Mumbai, and today’s youth engagement under the National Clean Air Programme is a crucial step toward long-term solutions. Clean air is not a gift we wait for—it is a responsibility we must actively claim. Your ideas, your actions, and your participation can shape a cleaner, healthier future for our city. Through continuous involvement of students, institutions, and the BMC, we can build lasting momentum toward a greener tomorrow.”
Revati Shidhaye, Executive Engineer, BMC, addressed the audience saying, “Air pollution is one of Mumbai’s most urgent challenges, and engaging our youth is essential to addressing it meaningfully. As a young nation, your awareness and participation can drive the behavioural change needed for a healthier future. Initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme give students a powerful opportunity to contribute to cleaner air and a better tomorrow. We are grateful for your support and look forward to working together to serve the city more effectively.”
Mr. Avinash Kate, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Environment & Climate Change), BMC, felicitated the winners and commended the students for their innovative ideas and commitment to environmental action. He highlighted the growing role of youth in advancing Mumbai’s clean air efforts under NCAP, guided by the leadership of Dr. Ashwini Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner, BMC, whose vision continues to steer the city’s climate-resilience initiatives. Following his address, Mrs. Varsha Athalye, Executive Engineer, BMC, briefly spoke about air pollution as a critical concern for Mumbai and highlighted key NCAP measures such as dust mitigation, mechanised road cleaning, and strengthened waste-management practices. She noted that the November edition of “Green Living, Better Tomorrow” focuses on simple daily sustainable actions that collectively create meaningful environmental impact and emphasized that youth are the real drivers of change. Mr. Rane, Deputy Chief Engineer, BMC, and Ms. Sonal Bhavsar, Deputy Municipal Architect, BMC, were also present at the event along with officials from the Environment & Climate Change Department.
The initiative strengthened the shared responsibility of citizens, institutions, and civic bodies toward clean air. It generated a wealth of innovative, practical ideas from youth participants, enhanced peer-to-peer environmental awareness, and inspired daily clean-air pledges through the ‘Wall of Commitment.’ The activities empowered students as communicators, innovators, and advocates for sustainable living, aligning with NCAP’s goal of fostering behavioral change and local innovation in air-quality management.
