A youth-led cleanliness drive at Loktak Lake in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Sunday brought attention to both the growing role of young people in environmental protection and their demand for closer coordination with government agencies.
During the three-hour drive, volunteers collected nearly two truckloads of plastic waste and garbage from the banks of the ecologically sensitive freshwater lake. Organisers said the effort highlighted how youth groups can play a meaningful role not only in environmental action but also in supporting effective policy implementation on the ground.
Over 40 volunteers participated in the initiative, which was organised by the National Youth Climate Consortium, an initiative of the Bring Back Green Foundation supported by YuWaah at UNICEF, in collaboration with DESAM and the Moirang Municipal Council. The drive was led by Moirangthem Bidyasagar Singh, a Manipur Fellow of the National Youth Climate Consortium.
Organisers said the cleanup led to visible improvement along the lake’s shoreline, with large amounts of plastic and other non-biodegradable waste removed. However, they stressed that the objective went beyond a one-day exercise and was meant to draw attention to the need for long-term and systemic solutions.
Referring to the United Nations’ recognition of a clean and healthy environment as a basic human right, organisers said periodic cleanup drives alone are not enough to protect sensitive ecosystems like Loktak Lake. They called for formal engagement between youth groups and the government, urging authorities to involve young people in dialogue, planning and implementation.
“The youth are ready to contribute as active partners in environmental governance. What is needed is a structured platform where our ideas, energy and field experience can be channelled into policymaking,” the organisers said.
They added that while waste removal remains important, young people are equally willing to help develop and sustain systems that prevent pollution and environmental degradation in the long run.
The Loktak Lake cleanup has been described as a strong example of community-driven environmental action and a call for closer collaboration between youth networks and government bodies to safeguard one of Manipur’s most important natural resources.