Cleaning Yamuna
Reviving Yamuna: A Visionary Framework for Ecological Renewal, Policy Integration, and Global
Environmental Leadership
By Vanshika Parmar, Miss India Earth | Global Ambassador | Director, Eco Earth Foundation
(Ghana)
Preface
There are rivers that carry water — and then there are rivers that carry civilization.
For India, the Yamuna is not merely a river; it is a living memory of faith, culture, and continuity. Yet,
over time, what once nourished millions now struggles to breathe.
When I stood beside the frozen winds of Ladakh during India’s G20 Presidency — representing my
nation amidst global leaders and environmental advocates — I realized that the essence of
sustainability lies not in policy alone but in purpose.
This white paper is born from that realization.
It is both a reflection of my journey across continents — from the icy peaks of Ladakh to the
wetlands of Ghana and the islands of the Philippines — and a manifesto of hope for the Yamuna’s
rebirth.
I write this not as a distant observer, but as a daughter of India who believes that rivers are
reflections of our collective conscience. To clean a river is to cleanse our civic spirit, to realign our
values, and to restore our bond with nature.
Executive Summary
This white paper presents a visionary and action-oriented framework for rejuvenating the Yamuna
River — one that transcends infrastructural restoration and instead embraces ecological ethics,
cultural identity, and citizen-driven stewardship.
It argues that the Yamuna’s revival must evolve from a government program into a societal
movement — guided by collaboration, sustainability, and visionary leadership.
Drawing from my own experiences in representing India on global stages such as:
The G20 Presidency Commemoration in Ladakh, where I witnessed climate diplomacy woven into
cultural expression.
The Miss Earth Foundation’s environmental collaborations in the Philippines, emphasizing education
and eco-tourism.
The Eco Earth Foundation in Ghana, which I co-launched to promote youth empowerment and
sustainable development.
— this paper proposes a transformative model for urban river rejuvenation rooted in cross-sector
partnerships, youth engagement, and global best practices.
The framework is structured around five thematic pillars:
1. Ecological Restoration — integrating science, heritage, and community participation.
2. Policy Synchronization — aligning Delhi’s Yamuna Action Plan with national and global
sustainability goals.
3. Cultural Revivalism — reconnecting people’s faith and creativity with ecological awareness.
4. Youth and Citizen Leadership — building a new civic consciousness that sustains the mission.
5. Sustainable Economy and Eco-Tourism — transforming the Yamuna corridor into a model of
green livelihoods and responsible tourism.
By combining my first-hand policy engagements and grassroots environmental advocacy, I envision
a rejuvenation model that positions the Yamuna not merely as a project — but as India’s living
laboratory of sustainable urban transformation.
---
Section 1: Introduction – Why the Yamuna Matters
I have often said that rivers mirror the moral health of nations. The Yamuna, once the lifeline of Delhi
and the sacred soul of northern India, today bears witness to our negligence and our resilience in
equal measure.
Yet, I do not see the Yamuna’s pollution as a story of despair — I see it as an opportunity for rebirth.
For me, the task of cleaning the Yamuna is not limited to water treatment plants or sewage
networks; it is about reviving the spiritual ecology of a civilization that once revered its rivers as
mothers.
Delhi’s Yamuna Cleaning Campaign, launched with the government’s renewed vision, carries
immense potential. But potential alone cannot create transformation. What we need is integration —
of policy, purpose, and people.
Having worked closely with environmental ministries, global NGOs, and academic platforms, I have
witnessed how nations succeed when citizens become co-authors of change. That is the model I
believe India can achieve — when the Yamuna ceases to be an administrative file and becomes a
national movement of conscience.
---
Part 2 – National Representation and Climate Diplomacy: My Experience at the G20 Presidency
Commemoration, Ladakh
---
Where Earth Meets Sky
There are moments when the air itself feels sacred.
Standing at nineteen thousand feet in Ladakh, surrounded by snow, silence, and a sky so close it
seemed to breathe with me, I understood what Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family,
One Future truly means.
Representing India at the G20 Presidency Commemoration was more than an assignment; it was an
awakening. The festival, curated under the Vibrant Ladakh Scheme by the Government of Ladakh in
association with the Home Ministry of India, the Indian Army, the Border Roads Organisation, and
the Incredible India campaign, sought to merge diplomacy with purpose – to show that culture,
sustainability, and development need not exist in isolation.
At that altitude, we created history.
The Umling-La International Fashion Runway became the world’s highest, entering the Guinness
Book of World Records. I had the honour of walking for India among representatives from fourteen
G20 nations. Each garment, woven in Ladakh from GI-tagged Pashmina, was more than couture – it
was testimony. It told the story of Himalayan women whose hands sustain an ancient craft and
whose livelihoods depend on the purity of their environment.
That day, fashion ceased to be spectacle. It became policy in motion – a call for eco-tourism,
women’s participation, and sustainable local economies.
The Night at Hanle
When the Ministry of Home Affairs permitted international delegates to stay overnight at Hanle – for
the first time in the region’s history – it was a moment of quiet diplomacy. We were welcomed by
villagers with songs, dances, and a humility that only mountains can teach.
During the foundation-stone ceremony for the Buddha Statue of World Peace at Umling-La, I carried
a vial of sand from India’s plains, blending it with sands from other nations. Watching those grains
merge reminded me that peace, like soil, grows richer when shared.
Felicitations and Learnings
I was deeply humbled to be felicitated by:
Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Brig. Dr. B. D. Mishra
Hon’ble Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor Shri Tashi Gyalson (LAHDC Leh)
The Ladakh Administration at a Gala Dinner celebrating the world-record achievement
Ms. Nilza Wangmo of Alchi Kitchen Ladakh for advocating sustainable gastronomy
The organisers of the Himalayan Film Festival, where I served as Guest of Honour, addressing
filmmakers on environmental storytelling.
Each interaction reaffirmed my conviction that policy must be human. The warmth of Ladakh’s
people, the courage of its soldiers, and the creativity of its youth embodied a truth I carry into every
project: environmental progress is strongest when rooted in culture and community.
Reflections: From Ladakh to the Yamuna
Ladakh taught me that environmental diplomacy works best when it unites science, art, and emotion.
The same philosophy can guide Delhi’s Yamuna Cleaning Campaign.
The river, like the mountains, demands humility and collective will. If a desert plateau can become a
stage for global sustainability, surely the Yamuna – the cradle of Indian civilization – can become a
model for urban ecological rebirth.
As I left Ladakh, the wind carried a quiet promise. The record we set there was not of altitude alone;
it was a declaration that India’s leadership in climate action is also a leadership of heart.
Part 3 – Global Environmental Diplomacy: Lessons That Transcend Borders
The Philippines – When Advocacy Became Identity
When I represented India at the Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines, I discovered what global
environmental advocacy truly means. It was not a contest of crowns but of conscience.
As the Philippines’ Tourism Ambassador to India, I worked with the Miss Earth Foundation, local
governments, schools, and environmental ministries to champion sustainability through education,
art, and action.
Over those months, I found myself planting trees beside children, joining clean-up drives with
communities, walking through forests with indigenous groups, and speaking at schools where
environmental awareness was not a subject but a way of life.
The Miss Earth Foundation’s collaboration with UNEP’s Champions of the Earth, WWF, and The
Climate Reality Project (founded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore) revealed to me the power of
networked leadership — how partnerships between governments, corporations, and citizens can
move climate policy from theory to tangible progress.
Every encounter taught me that sustainability must be emotional before it can be institutional. The
Philippines shaped me not as a delegate, but as a believer — in the transformative potential of
environmental communication.
When I envision the Yamuna Rejuvenation Campaign, I imagine the same grassroots energy: youth-
led, art-driven, and globally connected. The Yamuna, like Manila Bay or the Pasig River, can only be
healed when the community sees itself not as a beneficiary of change, but as its author.
Ghana – Sustainability Rooted in Human Dignity
In Ghana, I witnessed a continent’s rhythm merge with a planet’s heartbeat.
As part of the Global Tourism Ambassador and International Charity Gala Tour, I joined
ambassadors from Ghana, Cameroon, Scotland, Nigeria, Burundi, and England to promote
sustainable tourism and environmental responsibility.
The Ghana Tourism Authority, under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, had transformed eco-
tourism into a national movement. I was struck by how their approach balanced ecology and
economy — protecting biodiversity while creating livelihood opportunities for local communities.
During this visit, I also had the honour of serving as a Board Member of the ENEF Eco Earth
Foundation Ghana, where we connected education with employment through green vocational
training, digital literacy, and women’s entrepreneurship programs. Our work with St. Martin’s Senior
High School became one of my most fulfilling moments — proof that change begins where youth
meet purpose.
I was later felicitated by the Environmental Protection Agency Ghana and Dr. Christine Asare, an
acknowledgment that reaffirmed the global respect for collective environmental action.
From planting mangroves at Keta Lagoon, a Ramsar site teeming with migratory birds and sea
turtles, to being received by Hon. Elizabeth Sackey, the first female Mayor of Accra, during tree
plantation drives for the city’s Climate Action Plan — each experience deepened my conviction that
green diplomacy is not about speeches, it is about solidarity.
I learned that the success of any environmental campaign lies not just in its policies, but in its people
— those who plant, protect, and preserve.
Delhi’s Yamuna initiative, too, must evolve into a human story — one that uplifts livelihoods, nurtures
culture, and empowers youth to become custodians of their city’s riverine identity.
Cultural Diplomacy – A Universal Language of Sustainability
In Ghana, our journey extended beyond environmental events.
I had the honour of being received by His Royal Majesty Eze Dr. Ambassador Chukwudi Jude
Ihenetu, the Igbo King of Ghana. At the royal palace, we exchanged advocacy ideas over an
evening of cultural dialogue and shared purpose.
It reminded me that tradition and progress need not be adversaries — they are partners in continuity.
Whether standing under the ancient trees of Accra’s Shai Hills Resource Reserve or distributing food
at community outreach camps in Street 37, Accra, I saw how environmental and social sustainability
are inseparable.
One cannot clean a river and ignore the hunger on its banks; one cannot talk about climate justice
without social justice.
This is why, in every project I design or participate in, I place human dignity at the center of
environmental action.
Institutional Leadership – The Birth of the Eco Earth Foundation
Out of these global encounters emerged an idea — that the world needs not just advocates but
institutions that can outlive individuals.
Together with international delegates, I co-launched the Eco Earth Foundation — a transnational
initiative aimed at environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, and global collaboration.
Serving on the Board of Directors, I helped shape programs that connect:
Youth upskilling in green innovation,
Eco-advocacy and community education, and
Cross-cultural exchange that promotes inclusive climate action.
Our guiding belief is simple: “People and planet must grow together.”
Through the Eco Earth Foundation, I learned how leadership can be compassionate yet structured,
emotional yet data-driven. It was proof that when purpose meets partnership, change becomes
exponential.
And this belief — that sustainability is born from empowerment — is precisely what India’s Yamuna
campaign can embody.
Part 4 – The Yamuna Today: Challenges, Reflections and The Path Ahead
The River as a Mirror
When I return to Delhi after journeys abroad, I often stand on the banks of the Yamuna.
The contrast between its sacred history and its present state is heartbreaking.
A river that once carried the hymns of sages now carries the burden of an unmindful civilization.
And yet, I refuse to see the Yamuna as defeated.
It remains alive — flowing beneath layers of neglect, waiting for our collective awakening.
The story of the Yamuna is not merely about pollution; it is about priorities.
It reveals the gap between what we revere and how we behave.
If Ladakh taught me that sustainability can be celebratory, the Yamuna reminds me that
environmentalism must also be accountable.
---
Policy Landscape: Strengths and Gaps
The Yamuna Action Plan I–III, under the umbrella of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, has laid
a foundation of infrastructure — sewage treatment plants, interceptor drains, waste-water networks.
The Delhi Government’s ongoing Yamuna Cleaning Campaign has strengthened this effort with
renewed deadlines and citizen outreach.
However, three challenges persist:
1. Fragmented Coordination – Multiple agencies operate in parallel. Without convergence, impact
diffuses.
2. Limited Community Ownership – Most citizens perceive the Yamuna as the government’s
responsibility, not their own.
3. Absence of Cultural Connection – Technical measures alone cannot revive emotional reverence;
rivers survive on faith as much as finance.
These are not failures of intent but of integration.
The future must align policy, participation, and purpose into one coherent narrative.
---
From Compliance to Consciousness
I have seen in Ghana’s mangrove belts and the Philippines’ coastal programs that environmental
renewal succeeds only when it becomes a civic identity.
Delhi must move from compliance-based river management to consciousness-based stewardship.
What if every schoolchild along the Yamuna adopted a small stretch for monitoring biodiversity?
What if local artisans created “River Heritage Markets” that celebrate recycled art and water ethics?
What if technology — drones, sensors, citizen apps — made transparency visible to the people?
Restoration must become aspirational.
The Yamuna should not remind Delhi of guilt; it should inspire Delhi’s pride.
---
Cultural and Ethical Revival
Rivers are emotional geographies.
In our scriptures, the Yamuna is Krishna’s companion; in our festivals, she is purification itself.
Reviving her demands more than engineering — it demands ethics.
I envision a Yamuna Cultural Corridor, where temples, ghats, universities, and eco-parks coexist as
spaces of reflection and responsibility.
Imagine evening aartis powered by solar energy, art residencies on river ecology, and student
fellowships in water ethics.
Such initiatives humanize policy, weaving spirituality with science.
---
Integrating Global Lessons
From my experiences abroad, three transferable lessons emerge:
From the Philippines: Community-based eco-education — turning environmental messages into
daily rituals.
From Ghana: Linking ecology with livelihood — where every act of conservation creates income and
dignity.
From Ladakh: Using culture as a communication bridge — storytelling that turns sustainability into
celebration.
Delhi’s Yamuna campaign can integrate these by establishing a “Global Green Fellowship” inviting
youth, researchers, and artists to co-design interventions with local agencies.
---
My Vision: The Yamuna Rejuvenation Model
1. Science + Spirituality: Combine advanced water-quality analytics with heritage-based citizen
rituals.
2. Policy + Participation: A single Yamuna Authority linking all departments under a transparent
digital dashboard.
3. Ecology + Economy: Develop eco-tourism circuits — river walks, craft hubs, cycling trails — that
create green jobs.
4. Education + Empathy: Embed “River Literacy” in Delhi’s school curriculum, supported by
experiential programs.
5. Innovation + Inclusion: Encourage start-ups in waste management, renewable energy, and
biodegradable design through a “Clean Yamuna Innovation Fund.”
---
Why I Choose to Serve
Every accolade I have received — from the G-20 stage in Ladakh to the boardroom of the Eco Earth
Foundation — means little if I cannot serve at home.
I believe I can help translate Delhi’s vision into a movement that combines technical precision with
human compassion.
My global journey has taught me how to mobilize youth, engage policymakers, and communicate
sustainability in ways that inspire rather than instruct.
The Yamuna deserves that synthesis — of intellect and empathy.
If entrusted with the opportunity to contribute to this mission, I will dedicate my experience, networks,
and voice to ensuring that the Yamuna becomes not merely cleaner, but alive again — a river of
hope flowing through the conscience of a nation.
Part 5 – Policy Recommendations and Strategic Roadmap for Yamuna Rejuvenation
A Leadership Blueprint for a Living River
Every campaign succeeds only when it moves from emotion to execution — from poetry to policy.
The Yamuna’s revival must follow this rhythm.
My vision for the Yamuna combines governance reform, citizen inclusion, and economic opportunity
under a single narrative of shared stewardship.
It rests on five integrated pillars: Policy, Participation, Partnership, Progress, and Purpose.
1. Policy Integration and Institutional Reform
A river cannot be rejuvenated through fragmented mandates.
I propose the creation of a Unified Yamuna Rejuvenation Authority (UYRA) — a cross-sectoral
mechanism that harmonizes all agencies working along the river.
Mandate: Integrate urban planning, water resource management, and environmental education
under one policy framework.
Governance: Include representatives from government departments, NGOs, academia, and youth-
led sustainability organizations.
Accountability: Operate through a public digital dashboard where every budget, project milestone,
and water-quality metric is accessible to citizens.
This single-window structure will end duplication, foster transparency, and ensure that the Yamuna
becomes a governed ecosystem, not an administrative puzzle.
2. Civic Mobilization and Behavioural Change
Infrastructure can purify water; only awareness can purify habits.
Drawing inspiration from my Miss Earth Foundation work in the Philippines, I propose a “Yamuna
Consciousness Movement” — a social campaign that transforms river restoration into a lifestyle.
Key actions:
River Guardians Program: School and college students adopt one kilometre of the Yamuna for
regular clean-ups, biodiversity logging, and water testing.
Faith and Festivals: Collaborate with temples and religious organizations to promote eco-friendly
immersions and plastic-free rituals.
Art for the River: Street murals, theatre, and eco-fashion initiatives (like the Umling-La model) to
create cultural pride around the river.
Behavioural change must feel celebratory, not compulsory.
Only when people feel ownership will the Yamuna breathe again.
3. Sustainable Livelihoods and Green Economy
Environmentalism cannot exist in isolation from economics.
Communities that depend on the Yamuna — boatmen, farmers, vendors, artisans — must become
its first beneficiaries.
Inspired by Ghana’s community-based tourism and Eco Earth Foundation programs, I recommend:
Eco-Education Hubs: Skill development in green jobs such as waste recycling, solar installation, and
organic farming.
Yamuna Craft & Culture Markets: Curated riverfront bazaars featuring sustainable art, crafts, and
local cuisines.
River Tourism Circuits: Guided walks, biodiversity trails, cycling routes, and floating eco-restaurants
run by trained local entrepreneurs.
A clean river must create clean livelihoods — because when prosperity flows, pollution slows.
4. Technology and Innovation
Innovation is the bridge between ambition and action.
Delhi should establish a “Clean Yamuna Innovation Fund” to support start-ups, research groups, and
social enterprises working on river technologies — including:
Decentralized wastewater treatment and zero-liquid-discharge systems.
River-cleaning drones and sensor-based monitoring.
Biodegradable alternatives for single-use plastics.
Partnerships with IITs, IIITs, and private innovators can convert this campaign into a laboratory for
urban environmental technology.
---
5. Education, Empathy, and Global Collaboration
True rejuvenation begins in classrooms and conversations.
I envision a “River Curriculum” integrated into Delhi schools, where students learn hydrology,
heritage, and humanity through field visits and storytelling.
The Yamuna initiative should also align with global frameworks:
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – particularly Goals 6, 11, 13, and 15.
UNEP and UNESCO partnerships for cultural and ecological preservation.
Twin River Partnerships – linking the Yamuna with other major rivers globally (e.g., the Pasig in the
Philippines, the Volta in Ghana) for shared research and youth exchanges.
Such collaborations will transform Delhi into a hub of global environmental diplomacy, with the
Yamuna as its living emblem.
Governance with Heart
No policy succeeds without people.
And no people remain engaged without empathy.
In every initiative — whether it is a sewage plant or a student march — I will ensure that governance
retains a human face.
When a young child plants a sapling by the riverbank or a temple chooses clay over plastic for its
idols, these are not small gestures. They are acts of patriotism.
The Yamuna’s revival is not a technical challenge; it is a moral renaissance.
We are not just cleaning a river — we are cleansing our relationship with the Earth.
Part 6 – Conclusion and Author’s Note
My Pledge to the Yamuna
Every journey eventually circles back home.
For me, that home is the Yamuna.
I have walked global runways and spoken on international stages, yet my proudest step will always
be the one I take beside the waters that nurtured my civilisation.
I write this white paper not as a performer or a guest of honour, but as a citizen who believes that
leadership is service performed with humility and hope.
The Yamuna is not simply a river in need of revival; it is a mirror that reflects how sincerely we love
our country.
If entrusted to contribute to this mission, I pledge to work tirelessly—
to connect policy with purpose,
science with spirit,
and government with its people.
I will bring every lesson from Ladakh’s highlands, Ghana’s mangroves, and the Philippines’ shores
to the banks of the Yamuna, until its waters once again flow clear enough to reflect the sky.
---
Conclusion – A River Reborn, A Nation Awakened
The rejuvenation of the Yamuna is India’s opportunity to redefine what progress means.
It is a chance to demonstrate that growth need not scar the Earth; that development can sing in
harmony with devotion.
Through this paper I have tried to present a roadmap—one built not only on statistics, but on faith:
Faith in our governance to act with integrity.
Faith in our youth to lead with courage.
Faith in our people to heal what we once harmed.
I envision the day when the Yamuna’s water once again carries the prayers of millions and the
laughter of children; when Delhi’s citizens walk along green riverfronts that symbolise both beauty
and discipline.
That vision is not distant—it is possible, if we work with unity, transparency, and compassion.
A clean Yamuna will be more than an environmental achievement; it will be a national statement that
India, the land of rivers, still remembers how to honour them.
---
About the Author
Vanshika Parmar – Miss India Earth 2022 | Global Ambassador | Orator | Philanthropist
Vanshika Parmar, from Nadaun (Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh), made history as the first Miss India
Earth from her state to represent the nation internationally. At just eighteen, she carried India’s
tricolour to the Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines—one of the world’s foremost environmental
platforms.
Global Representation and Recognition
Represented India at the G20 Presidency Commemoration, Ladakh, a Guinness World Record
event on sustainable fashion and climate diplomacy.
Served as Tourism Ambassador for the Philippines and for Ghana, working with ministries, UNEP
partners, and the ENEF Eco Earth Foundation to promote eco-tourism and conservation.
Appointed Tourism Ambassador of Himachal Pradesh by the State Government to showcase its
natural and cultural heritage.
Co-founded and serves on the Board of Directors of the Eco Earth Foundation (Ghana), a global
platform for sustainability, youth empowerment, and green innovation.
Academic and Professional Profile
A gold-medalist graduate and postgraduate from Miranda House, University of Delhi, Vanshika is
pursuing her doctorate focused on sustainability and cultural leadership. An accomplished orator and
national debating champion, she has been honoured by IITs, IIITs, IIM Amritsar, DTU, Amity
University, SRM University, and multiple Delhi University colleges for her intellectual and
humanitarian contributions.
Recognition and Legacy
Felicitated by the Governor and Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh, as well as dignitaries including
Lt. Governor of Ladakh Brig. Dr. B. D. Mishra and CEC Shri Tashi Gyalson, she continues to inspire
through advocacy in sustainability, women’s empowerment, and cultural diplomacy.
Personal Ethos
Daughter of Group Captain Shusheel Kumar Parmar (Indian Air Force) and Mrs. Rittu Parmar, a
former corporate executive and humanitarian, Vanshika embodies a lineage of discipline, empathy,
and service.
Today she stands as a global ambassador and thought leader—uniting intellect with empathy, and beauty with responsibility—to advance a vision where people and planet thrive together.