VFS Global and Bhumi’s mega beach clean-up drive mobilises 3.5K volunteers across six cities in India

Chennai:

Marking International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 19, VFS Global and Bhumi mobilised more than 3,508 volunteers across Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kolkata and Mumbai to clean not only beaches but the lakes and rivers that feed into them, underscoring this year’s campaign message that every water body is connected to the coast. The drive resulted in the collection of 5,530 kilograms of plastic, debris and waste, marking the largest edition yet of the VFS Global–Bhumi partnership.

Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global, said, “At VFS Global, we believe that meaningful change begins when communities come together with a shared purpose. This year’s Mega Beach Clean-Up demonstrates the power of collective action, with thousands of volunteers across six cities helping protect our waterways and coastlines. By expanding our efforts beyond beaches to lakes and rivers, we are recognising an important reality: every piece of waste discarded inland can eventually reach our oceans. We are proud to partner with Bhumi and all the volunteers who have contributed their time and energy to create cleaner, healthier environments for future generations.”

Neha Shrivastava, Director, Corporate Volunteering, Bhumi, said, “Many thanks to VFS Global for its consistent support in helping us scale from three to six cities. This is not just about expanding our footprint; it is about rethinking how environmental action can be owned by communities. By bringing together corporate partners and local clubs, we are building a decentralised model where small, consistent actions can drive systemic change. For us, the success of the Mega Beach Clean-Up is not measured only by the waste collected, but by the behaviours we influence and the culture of everyday environmental responsibility we build!”

This year’s Mega Beach Clean-Up scaled up significantly from 2025, when the partnership brought together over 2,700 volunteers across three cities. For 2026, the campaign widened its scope to six cities and, for the first time, extended cleanup activities inland to lakes and river ghats, recognising that pollution entering a lake or river eventually reaches the sea.

 The initiative brought together VFS Global employees, college students, corporates, NGO partners and residents across all six cities, with support from partner organisations.