2070 Kgs of Waste Removed: VES Students Lead Mumbai Beach Cleanup with IGBC & Project Mumbai

With 26 institutions and a legacy of 50+ years, VES strengthens its commitment to sustainability through large-scale beach clean-up

In a powerful demonstration of student-led environmental responsibility, over 300 National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers from Vivekanand Education Society (VES) took part in a large-scale beach clean-up drive at Dadar Chowpatty, clearing a staggering 2070 kilograms of waste. The initiative was carried out in partnership with Project Mumbai’s ‘Jallosh’ coastal cleanup campaign and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), furthering VES’s long-standing commitment to sustainable development and civic engagement.
Founded in 1962, VES is a collective of 26 educational institutions under the Vivekanand Education Society umbrella, based in Chembur, Mumbai. For decades, it has not only educated generations of students but actively contributed to shaping socially aware citizens. This latest initiative reflects VES’s deep-rooted belief that the responsibility of an institution extends beyond the classroom and into the community it serves.

The cleanup took place under the expansive umbrella of Project Mumbai’s Jallosh initiative a movement aimed at cleaning rivers, lakes, and coastlines across the city. Dadar Chowpatty, one of Mumbai’s most popular public beaches and one often left littered after festivals, was chosen as the focal point for this particular drive. The volunteers, wearing gloves and high-visibility vests, combed the shoreline and meticulously segregated the waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories.
The activity saw the participation of not just students, but more than 20 faculty members who supervised the effort and worked alongside students throughout the day. The 2070 kilograms of collected waste included single-use plastics, thermocol remnants from idol immersions, discarded offerings, packaging waste, and general litter items that pose significant threats to marine ecosystems and coastal biodiversity.

The day also carried symbolic weight. Taking place close to Ganesh Visarjan festivities, the event served as a reminder of the environmental cost of religious celebrations if not managed responsibly. By engaging students in such community-focused programs, VES aims to create long-term behavioral change, sensitizing the next generation of citizens to issues of waste management, water pollution, and climate resilience.
Representatives from IGBC India’s foremost authority on green building practices provided students with insights into the broader significance of environmental action, including how localized efforts like beach clean-ups contribute to larger goals like urban sustainability and carbon footprint reduction. Project Mumbai, the civil society group behind the Jallosh initiative, facilitated logistics and coordination, ensuring the smooth execution of the program.

Dr. Hemlata Kothari, Principal of VES College of Arts, Science and Commerce, noted that the event was not merely symbolic but a strategic part of VES’s academic mission to instil real-world problem-solving among students. She highlighted that such on-ground initiatives blend practical action with environmental science, civic responsibility, and leadership development.
The cleanup effort also dovetailed into VES’s broader sustainability strategy, which includes campus-wide waste segregation, rainwater harvesting, energy efficiency audits, and curriculum modules centered on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). With India facing mounting environmental challenges including rising urban waste and coastal degradation initiatives like these signal a much-needed shift in how educational institutions can function as active agents of change.

With more than 26 institutions under its fold and a history spanning over five decades, Vivekanand Education Society continues to lead by example. This beach cleanup was not just about removing trash, it was about restoring the ecological integrity of one of Mumbai’s most beloved public spaces, and in doing so, nurturing a culture of care, consciousness, and collective action.

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