Environment & Sustainability

US-based Kapil Sharma, originally from Raipur, founded 'SayTrees', a non-profit dedicated to urban and rural afforestation and lake rejuvenation. Since its inception, SayTrees has planted trees and revitalised lakes and wells in Bengaluru and Pune.

IFS officer P Srinivas worked fearlessly to protect Karnataka’s forests and uplift villagers living under Veerappan’s terror. He built trust with communities, fought poachers and smugglers, and ultimately laid down his life in the line of duty. His sacrifice remains a symbol of courage and service.

Across India, citizens are joining hands to revive lakes and rivers. From Chennai to Coimbatore, these people-led movements show how communities can solve the water crisis.

Sharun Arora leads Chennai Super Klean, a team that started with local clean-ups and now represents India at the Spogomi World Cup. Through strategy, teamwork, and purpose, they show how environmental action can become a powerful and competitive movement on the global stage.

Inspired by the movie Avatar, environmentalist and clean air activist Jai Dhar Gupta turned 32 acres near Uttarakhand's Rajaji National Park into a biosphere. With the help of expert Vijay Dhasmana, he revived the land, bringing back native plants and wildlife.

Blackouts no longer mean darkness for many Kerala families. Since 2017, startup Energy24by7 has made this possible, powering over 1,000 homes with smart solar that saves up to 50 percent on bills and keeps them running through outages.

From eco-art installations to stages made of scrap, this Bengaluru-based festival is reimagining music through sustainability.

Hyderabad-based Pavani Lolla understood that while organic waste was a problem, it could also be turned into an opportunity. In 2020, she came up with an innovative composter that not only solved the everyday dumping of organic waste but also aimed at making composting people’s daily routine.

A certified naturalist, Luv Shekhawat created Utsav Camp in Rajasthan’s Alwar, with guidance from his 90-year-old grandfather, a former forest officer. The jungle lodge, which blends sustainability with rustic charm, opens up to the Sariska Tiger Reserve, offering its guests a wildlife experience.

The Pali Hill Residents’s Association began with eight women in the 90s who dreamt of transforming their neighbourhood into a cleaner, greener, and safer home. The members recall how they achieved this award-winning transformation over two decades.