Manorama river cleanup: Akash Gupta thanks PM Modi for Mann Ki Baat mention
Synopsis
A seven-member youth team from Basti, Uttar Pradesh, quietly cleaned 300 metres of the Manorama river in 65 days — and earned a shoutout from PM Modi on Mann Ki Baat. Their leader Akash Gupta is now calling for a national movement, with monsoon sapling drives and rainwater harvesting next on the agenda.
Key Takeaways
Akash Gupta leads a seven-member youth team cleaning the Manorama river in Basti, Uttar Pradesh .
The team has cleared 300 metres of the riverbed over 65 days .
PM Modi highlighted their work in the 134th episode of Mann Ki Baat .
The group plans to plant saplings along the riverbank during the monsoon season and pursue rainwater harvesting .
Gupta called for broader citizen participation, saying cleanliness is impossible without collective national effort.
Akash Gupta, who heads a seven-member youth team cleaning the Manorama river in Basti district, Uttar Pradesh, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the group's efforts were highlighted in the 134th episode of the PM's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'. Gupta said the recognition has energised his team, while stressing that lasting cleanliness is achievable only through collective national effort.
What PM Modi Said
During the 134th Mann Ki Baat broadcast, Prime Minister Modi spotlighted Gupta's initiative as an example of citizen-led conservation. 'Akash Gupta of Basti was deeply saddened by the sight of his village's Manorama River. The river he had seen as clean and vibrant in his childhood... Over time, plastic had started accumulating in the river, and the filth was increasing. Akash decided not to complain, but to make a new beginning. 'No complaints, a fresh start' became his mantra. He took his friends along,' Modi said.
The Ground Work in Basti
Gupta's team of seven volunteers has cleaned 300 metres of the Manorama riverbed over 65 days. He noted that the pace of restoration depends directly on volunteer strength, and urged more residents to join the drive. 'Depending on the number of people joining us, we will be able to clean the river more quickly,' he said.
Beyond waste removal, the team plans to plant saplings along the riverbank during the upcoming monsoon season and undertake rainwater harvesting initiatives — broadening their focus from cleanup to long-term environmental conservation.
Collective Action, Not Government Dependency
Gupta drew a direct line between citizen responsibility and environmental outcomes. 'Citizens should make efforts to themselves clean the resources that we have received from Mother nature, rather than wait for the government to do so,' he asserted. He also referenced Central government schemes such as the Namami Gange Programme and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, noting that such programmes succeed only when community participation scales up alongside institutional support. 'Work related to cleanliness cannot be carried out until the entire country comes together,' he added.
Youth as Agents of Change
Gupta expressed confidence that India's youth, if given the right platforms, can drive meaningful development outcomes. His village, he said, is collectively grateful for the national recognition their quiet, consistent work has received. This comes amid a broader push by the Centre to spotlight grassroots environmental champions through high-visibility platforms like Mann Ki Baat, which reaches tens of millions of listeners each month. The Manorama initiative now stands as a potential model for community-led river restoration in small-town Uttar Pradesh.
Point of View
65 days, seven volunteers. That specificity is what separates it from generic cleanliness messaging. The harder question is whether the spotlight translates into sustained volunteer growth or fades after the news cycle. Namami Gange has spent thousands of crores on river rejuvenation with mixed results; citizen-led micro-efforts like Gupta's often outperform on community ownership but stall on scale. The government would do well to build a formal support channel — not just a radio mention — for such groups.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Akash Gupta and what is the Manorama river cleanup initiative?
Akash Gupta is a youth leader from Basti district in Uttar Pradesh who heads a seven-member volunteer team cleaning the Manorama river. The team has cleared 300 metres of the riverbed over 65 days, motivated by the river's deterioration due to plastic waste accumulation.
Why did PM Modi mention Akash Gupta in Mann Ki Baat?
PM Modi highlighted Gupta's initiative during the 134th episode of Mann Ki Baat as an example of citizen-led environmental action. Modi praised Gupta's 'no complaints, fresh start' approach to reviving a river that had been clean during his childhood.
What are the next steps for the Manorama river cleanup team?
The team plans to plant saplings along the riverbank during the upcoming monsoon season and work on rainwater harvesting. Gupta has also called for more volunteers to join, saying the pace of cleanup depends on the number of people participating.
How does this initiative relate to government schemes like Namami Gange and Swachh Bharat?
Gupta referenced both the Namami Gange Programme and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan as frameworks that support cleanliness efforts, but stressed that government programmes alone are insufficient. He argued that citizen participation is essential for these schemes to succeed.
What is Mann Ki Baat and how often does PM Modi address the nation through it?
Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address in which he highlights citizen stories, government initiatives, and social issues. The 134th episode featured Gupta's Manorama river cleanup as an inspiring example of grassroots environmental conservation.
