Mysuru: In a bid to strengthen its cleanliness campaign and eliminate Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs), the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) is planning to involve around 10,000 students as volunteers under a new initiative titled ‘Mysuru Clean City Wardens’. The programme aims to encourage civic responsibility among young people while supporting the corporation’s efforts to keep the city clean.

The proposal comes as the MCC intensifies its drive to transform 80 Garbage Vulnerable Points as part of the 80th Independence Day celebrations and its broader commitment to achieving a garbage-free city under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.

MCC intensifies clean city campaign

The Mysuru City Corporation has been working with members of various organisations to identify and clear garbage dumping hotspots across the city.

Garbage Vulnerable Points continue to pose a significant challenge despite regular waste collection and public awareness campaigns. Officials say eliminating these locations is one of the key objectives under the Swachh Bharat Mission’s goal of creating garbage-free urban centres.

As part of the ongoing campaign, the civic body has launched an ambitious programme to reclaim and maintain 80 such locations.

Students to become Clean City Wardens

To strengthen the initiative, the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has proposed recruiting nearly 10,000 school students to serve as Mysuru Clean City Wardens.

According to environmental activist Bhamy V. Shenoy, the programme aims to instil civic sense among students while encouraging them to become ambassadors for cleanliness in their neighbourhoods.

The students will be encouraged not only to avoid littering themselves but also to discourage others from dumping garbage in public places.

They will also report instances of illegal waste disposal to the Mysuru City Corporation, enabling authorities to take appropriate action.

Campaign builds on earlier success

Bhamy V. Shenoy said the MGP had launched a similar ‘Clean Mysuru City’ campaign involving more than 15 schools in 2025.

Encouraged by the response, the organisation now plans to significantly expand the programme by involving thousands of students from schools across the city.

School administrators, principals and MCC Environmental Engineer Mruthyunjaya are jointly preparing strategies to implement the initiative effectively.

The organisers believe that active participation by students will help create long-term behavioural change among residents.

Public awareness and stricter enforcement

Residents have acknowledged improvements in the city’s waste collection system over recent months.

A homemaker, Sumithra, said the MCC has strengthened door-to-door garbage collection and regularly conducts awareness campaigns urging residents not to litter public spaces.

However, she pointed out that some people continue to dump garbage at night in locations that have already been cleaned.

She suggested that stricter enforcement and penalties are necessary to discourage repeat offenders.

Environmentalists have also recommended imposing heavier fines on violators, drawing comparisons with countries such as Singapore, where strict penalties have helped maintain cleaner cities.

Earlier efforts faced challenges

The MCC has experimented with several methods to prevent illegal garbage dumping, including deploying night patrol teams at vulnerable locations.

Officials also explored the use of artificial intelligence-based surveillance to monitor garbage disposal and identify offenders.

However, the proposed AI-based system could not be implemented due to financial constraints and other operational challenges.

Despite these setbacks, the civic body continues to explore alternative measures to improve solid waste management and eliminate illegal dumping.

Meeting to discuss the initiative

The Mysore Grahakara Parishat will hold a meeting on August 9 at 4 pm at 6/1 Vivekananda Road, Yadavagiri, Mysuru, to discuss the proposed student volunteer programme.

School representatives, civic officials and interested citizens have been invited to participate and offer suggestions for the successful implementation of the initiative.

Organisers believe that involving students alongside stricter enforcement and sustained public awareness will significantly contribute to Mysuru’s vision of becoming a cleaner and garbage-free city.