Imphal: On a quiet Saturday morning following rainfall, Dr Kamei Beeju and the members of her Green Club, Sangaiprou, set out from their homes to begin social work activities in their village, Sangaiprou Kabui, located in Imphal West district.
This small team of 17 to 20 members begins its social work as early as 4:30 am, when most residents are still in bed, sweeping village roadsides, cleaning drainage systems and public spaces.
For years, this has been a routine for them every Saturday, carried out purely voluntarily, rain or shine. Today, this Kabui village, with around 120 households, has proudly set a benchmark for other localities and villages in the state to keep their surroundings clean and green.
One can clearly see the efforts and hard work of the community members, as flower pots and other plants have been carefully placed along the village roadside.
During a candid interaction at a well-maintained locality park over a hot breakfast following a quick break from their social work, Dr Kamei Beeju, founder of the Green Club, shared that members of the club have been actively involved in cleanliness drives and other activities since the club’s inception on September 29, 2018.
According to Dr Beeju, currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, the inspiration draws from her mother, who not only worked tirelessly for the family but also ensured that the surroundings were always neat and clean.
Motivated by her mother’s dedication, Dr Beeju wasted no time after completing her studies and, without waiting for others, launched the initiative to keep the village clean and green and promote grassroots environmental conservation.
As part of her club’s environmental awareness campaign, Dr Beeju and her club members encourage residents to maintain hygienic surroundings and take pride in a cleaner, healthier community. Today, the initiative has created a lasting impact not only on her village community, but it has also resonated in other parts of the state.
Having put in years of dedicated effort, along with the cooperation of local residents, Sangaiprou Kabui Khul has today become one of the cleanest villages in the Greater Imphal area.
“I feel that civic and moral responsibility is important to every individual,” said Dr Beeju as we sat in the community park surrounded mostly by fruit-bearing trees, including mango trees.
In recognition of her selfless work for the community and her efforts to promote an eco-friendly environment, Dr Beeju was recently presented with the Appreciation Award 2026 on World Environment Day by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Manipur, as an Inspiring Campaigner.
Challenges and its measures
According to Dr Beeju, it was not until 2022 that club members were able to carry out cleanliness drives smoothly without stumbling over potholes, muddy roads or stagnant drainage. However, thanks to the efforts of the village authority and the state government in constructing all-weather roads, residents no longer lag behind in terms of connectivity.
“In 2022, the state government and our village authority constructed good roads. Since then, our activities have gone smoothly and now the village looks beautiful,” said Dr Beeju, while acknowledging her team members’ dedication and hard work in keeping the village clean and enhancing its beauty.
However, she noted that, like many other places, her village is also facing environmental challenges, including rising pollution and drought caused by climate change.
“We don’t just sweep the locality. We also organise plantation drives, conduct awareness campaigns and motivate children. I believe that by educating children, we can nurture lifelong responsibility,” said Dr Beeju.
In line with the state government’s initiative to promote extensive tree plantation, Dr Beeju said that her club has proposed a plan for the village that requires each household to plant one tree to help protect the environment.
To encourage youth volunteers who work tirelessly, Dr Beeju said that she personally provides them with an honorarium of Rs 250 each every week from her own pocket.
“As of now, we do not receive any government schemes, but people have recognised our work, and such recognition for our small activities is valuable to us,” she said.
Sometimes, the club members manage their expenses by selling the waste plastic they collect to buy equipment and tools. According to Dr Beeju, plastic waste management is one of the key components of the initiative, with members often collecting around 200 to 250 kg of plastic waste each week. The revenue generated from recycling these items is then used to purchase machinery and other tools needed for cleanliness drives and beautification purposes within the village premises, she added.
Volunteers from the club shared that participation from both children and elders collectively contributes to keeping the village surroundings clean and fostering environmental consciousness.
“This is our home and our village, and it’s the responsibility of the youth to keep the surroundings clean. If we don’t clean it, no one else will do it for us. And we don’t have to do big things—even small contributions from every individual can make a huge impact,” said Kamei Jangsinglung, a volunteer.
Another volunteer also shared that although the social work activities can be physically exhausting, seeing the surroundings clean brings a sense of satisfaction.
“Passers-by in our village are often impressed by and compliment our village’s efforts. That is the best part of being a volunteer,” she added.
Also Read: My daughter, my city, and a protest a thousand miles from Jantar Mantar
You just read a story that took days to report. Help us keep our reporters on the ground in the Northeast.
Ad-free reading, support and keep important stories alive
Support once (any amount)
Scan to pay via UPI