PYFC 2.0 Expands the Scale of Environmental Public Participation with 32,000+ Volunteers Across 21 States
“A Step Towards a Greener Future Through Volunteering”
New Delhi, 6 September 2026: The grand conference of the Plant Your Future Campaign (PYFC) 2.0 was held on Sunday at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Organized by Social Action Mobilizer, the second edition brought together more than 300 participants, including environmental activists, young volunteers, educators, corporate representatives, institutions and civil society organizations.
The central message of the conference was that environmental protection is not the responsibility of experts or institutions alone; sustainable change is possible through broad public participation, volunteering and action at the local level.
Remarkable Expansion in One Year
Under PYFC 2.0, more than 32,000 volunteers were mobilized across 21 states, with partnerships developed with 98+ institutions and organizations. This marks a significant increase over the previous edition, which reached 13,000+ volunteers across 8 states and 64+ partner institutions/organizations.
32,000+ Volunteers
21 States
98+ Institution/Organization Partners
300+ Conference Participants
Presence of Leading Voices in Environmental Leadership
The programme was inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp in the presence of Dr. Rajendra Singh (Water Man of India), Ramveer Tanwar (Pond Man of India), Rakesh Khatri (Nest Man of India), Dr. Indira Khurana, Uday Shankar Singh, CEO, Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, and the Social Action Mobilizer team—Amarnath Kumar (CEO), Manish Anand (Director), Sayak Sarkar, Vibha Dubey, Priyanka Sil, Debrup Das and Preeti Kumari.
This was followed by the launch of the PYFC 2.0 report, keynote addresses, two panel discussions, an awards and felicitation ceremony, and the closing session.
Dr. Rajendra Singh emphasized water as a fundamental requirement for life, livelihoods and communities, and stressed the importance of community participation and responsible stewardship of natural resources.
“Big change for the environment does not begin with big resources, but with people’s participation. When young people and communities take responsibility themselves, conservation becomes not just a campaign, but a people’s movement.”
— Dr. Rajendra Singh, Water Man of India
Two important dialogues focused on youth volunteering and institutional responsibility. The first panel was moderated by Ashu Bhat, Business Advisor & Resource Management, Kyndryl India. It featured Dr. Rajendra Singh, Ramveer Tanwar, Rakesh Khatri, Dr. Prashant R. Chauhan and Annie Namala. The discussion focused on youth participation, environmental awareness, volunteering and building a sense of ownership for the environment within local communities.
The second panel brought together experts from the corporate and development sectors to discuss the role of corporate social responsibility, employee volunteering, partnerships and institutional collaboration in environmental sustainability. The session was moderated by Tannu Adlakha. The panel included Sanjay Bhatia, Senior Consultant, Genpact; Dr. Y. Suresh Reddy, Lead CSR & Director, SRF Foundation; and Dr. Indira Khurana.
A shared message emerging from the panels was that there is no single entry point for environmental change—it can begin with a pond, a nest, a classroom, a community, or simply with one person’s decision.
PYFC 2.0 Awards: Recognizing the Contribution of Institutions and Organizations
PYFC 2.0 recognized institutions and organizations for their contributions to environmental impact, volunteer mobilization, community outreach and innovation. The winners were:
| Category | Institution | Organization |
| Green Impact Champion Award | Avantika University | Parvaah NGO |
| Eco Mobilizer Award | Government College for Girls, Sector 14 | Prem Youth Foundation |
| Green Innovation Award | AISSMS & KSR College of Engineering | Nirman Welfare Foundation |
At the individual level, Dr. Gaurav Bhagra (Avantika University) was recognized as Best Faculty Mentor, Dr. Revathi as Environmental Action Leader, Ridam Jain for Outstanding Youth Leadership, and Achint Kaur as Distinguished Eco Leader.
Beyond Awards: Recognizing Every Contribution
Alongside nominated institutions and organizations, the campaign also provided appreciation certificates to volunteers who contributed behind the scenes to the event.
Institutional nominees included Army Institute, Guru Ram Dass College of Education, Bahra University, and Enactus Shri Aurobindo Evening. Organizational nominees included Pabhav Trust, Anubhuti Samiti, Ekta Rahii Ghumakkdi, Bhavisha Trust, A D Foundation, BYF Foundation 2, Vikara, The Voice of Change, Ananta Foundation and Thuvakkam Welfare Association.
SAM’s legal advisors, Supreme Court Advocate Sanjeev Gupta and Advocate Shambhunath Singh, along with Braj Babu, were also acknowledged.
Organizer: “Environmental Responsibility Belongs to Everyone”
“The objective of PYFC is not merely to create awareness about the environment, but to make people part of the action. The journey from 13,000+ to 32,000+ volunteers shows that when youth, institutions, civil society and the corporate sector come together on a shared platform, small initiatives can translate into large collective impact. We believe that saving the environment does not require a few people to do everything; it requires all of us to do something.”
— Sayak Sarkar, Director, Social Action Mobilizer
PYFC 2.0 concluded with participants taking a pledge to translate the conversations and learnings from the conference into action on the ground. The event highlighted volunteering, partnerships and community-based leadership as important pathways towards India’s environmental future.
PYFC 2.0 at a Glance
- 32,000+ volunteers | 21 states | 98+ institutional and organizational partners | 300+ conference participants
- Compared with the previous edition: 13,000+ to 32,000+ volunteers; 8 to 21 states; 64+ to 98+ partners
- Key themes: environmental volunteering, youth leadership, corporate responsibility, community participation and sustained action
- Organizer: Social Action Mobilizer | Venue: Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
- Date: 6 September 2026
