Away From Home, Manipuri Students Spark Civic Action in Dehradun

A group of Manipuri students in Dehradun recently organised a community clean-up drive at Upper Sudhowala, led by members of the Manipur Students Union–Dehradun, bringing together around 20 students to collect plastic waste, bottles, and other litter from the streets. The initiative was inspired by student Cheenglai Lakpa, who previously ran an environmental group called For Better Kangleipak in Manipur and wanted to continue the same mission while studying in Dehradun. Beyond cleaning the area, the drive aimed to promote civic responsibility, environmental awareness, and solidarity among students studying away from home, especially as many from the Northeast face discrimination in other parts of the country. Although the team faced challenges arranging proper waste disposal due to unfamiliarity with the local system, they received encouraging support from local residents. Inspired by the positive response, the students now plan to organise larger clean-up drives in the future, emphasizing that even small initiatives can spark meaningful community change.