From classroom to community: Manipur professor leads eight-year environmental campaign

At a time when climate change and environmental degradation have emerged among the world's most pressing concerns, a social work academic in Manipur has translated classroom lessons into sustained community action, transforming her village into a model of grassroots environmental conservation.

Kamei Biju, 44, an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University's Regional Campus in Manipur (IGNTU-RCM), has spent the past eight years leading a community-driven cleanliness and environmental awareness campaign through the Green Club Sangaiprou, which she founded on September 29, 2018.

Based in Sangaiprou Kabui Khul in Imphal West district, the initiative began as a modest effort to promote cleanliness and environmental responsibility within the locality. Over the years, it has evolved into a structured community movement involving residents across all age groups and has transformed the village of around 120 households into one recognised for its clean surroundings and green landscape.

Biju said the inspiration for establishing the Green Club came from her mother, whose commitment to maintaining a clean household instilled in her the importance of civic responsibility from an early age.

"Maintaining cleanliness is a discipline that should be cultivated from childhood. We started the club without any grand plan, but today it continues successfully because of the support and participation of people from every section of the community," she said.

The club organises weekly cleanliness drives every Saturday beginning at 5.30 a.m., with around 17 to 20 volunteers spending nearly six hours cleaning roads, drains and public spaces. Besides improving sanitation, the exercise has strengthened community participation and social cohesion.

According to Biju, the volunteers use the opportunity to discuss issues related to the welfare and development of their locality during breaks, making the campaign a platform for both environmental and community engagement.

To acknowledge the commitment of young volunteers, Biju personally provides an honorarium of Rs 250 per participant every week from her own resources. While the club has not received financial assistance from the government, residents and well-wishers contribute towards refreshments during the weekly drives.

Plastic waste management has also become a key component of the initiative. The club collects nearly 250 kilograms of plastic waste every week and sends it to recycling units. Revenue generated from the recycled material is utilised to purchase equipment required for cleanliness drives and roadside beautification.

Apart from regular sanitation activities, the Green Club conducts tree plantation drives, environmental awareness programmes, campaigns on global warming and plastic recycling, and encourages participation by schoolchildren and young residents. The group has also undertaken roadside beautification by planting trees, particularly fruit-bearing species.

Looking ahead, Biju plans to launch a campaign encouraging every household in the village to plant at least one tree.

She recalled that poor road infrastructure posed a major challenge during the initial years of the campaign until improvements were made in 2022. The installation of roadside dustbins also significantly contributed to maintaining cleanliness in the locality.

The initiative has begun attracting attention beyond Sangaiprou. Biju said the model has already been adopted in Kakhulong, while representatives from neighbouring villages have approached the Green Club to understand and replicate its community-based approach.

Volunteers associated with the initiative say their motivation stems from a shared sense of responsibility towards their village.

"If we do not take care of our own surroundings, no one else will. Even small individual contributions can create a significant impact when the community works together," said volunteer Kamei Jangsinglung.

Another volunteer said that although the weekly physical work is demanding, appreciation from visitors and neighbouring communities has reinforced the value of their efforts.

The Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur, recently recognised Biju's contribution by conferring on her the title of "Inspiring Campaigner" during this year's World Environment Day observance.

The recognition comes as Manipur, like many other regions, experiences the growing impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures have contributed to changing disease patterns, with dengue now being reported throughout the year rather than remaining seasonal. Global studies, including those by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), have also highlighted the potential for climate change to expand the risk of vector-borne diseases and other public health challenges.

Through sustained community participation, recycling initiatives and environmental awareness, Biju's grassroots campaign demonstrates how local action can contribute meaningfully to addressing broader environmental challenges while fostering civic responsibility and community ownership.