Reclaim Guwahati Turns One — Citizens Show What “My City, My Responsibility” Really Means

What began a year ago as a small gathering of concerned citizens around Dighalipukhuri has today grown into one of Guwahati’s most active community movements. 

Reclaim Guwahati, a volunteer-driven initiative to clean, restore, and protect public spaces, has just completed one year of sustained civic action.

Since November 2024, the group has organised 51 clean-up drives, collected nearly 1.5 tonnes of waste, installed bamboo dustbins, and brought together over 600 volunteers from different parts of the city.

But the effort has gone far beyond cleaning. From Gosor Golpo (Tree Tales) — a project where citizens document and share stories about local trees — to Eco-Art Sundays for children, book readings, waste audits, and storytelling walks like Burhi Ai’r Xadhu, Reclaim Guwahati has tried to make environmental awareness fun and participatory.

Notably, the initiative has also sought to build accountability among civic authorities, encouraging residents to work closely with their local councillors and take ownership of public spaces. In line with this spirit, Reclaim Guwahati has incorporated the Guwahati Municipal Corporation’s motto — “My City, My Responsibility” — into its community activities.

The group has also partnered with schools like Ascent Academy and Shiksha Niketan, colleges including Handique Girls’ College and Cotton University, and organisations such as Blue Ladder Trust, ATDC, GMC, and Pollution Control Board Assam (PCBA) to strengthen its network.

As the initiative enters its second year, the volunteers plan to expand their tree documentation project Gosor Golpo to more areas and turn Dighalipukhuri into a model of community-led urban restoration — showing that small, consistent efforts can indeed reclaim a city’s spirit.

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