Segregation, Composting, and a Push for Lasting Change: Indiahikes and Mahila Mandal Lead Manali Clean-Up

At Indiahikes, we don’t look at cleaning the mountains as a one-time activity. It is not about charity or good deeds. It is about responsibility. Every green sweep we do is meant to push for something larger — awareness, systems, and lasting change.

Recently, this came into sharp focus at our Manali base. A short walk into the forest near campus revealed what we had seen far too often — piles of waste scattered in the forest. Beer bottles, sanitary waste, diapers, non-recyclables. We had cleared the same forest before, in 2023 and earlier this year. But the trash kept returning. It was evident — another clean-up was not enough. 

Partnering With the Mahila Mandal

The very next morning, we joined hands with the Mahila Mandal. Around 15 women from the local village, along with our team, came together for the clean-up. For the women, this was not new — on the 10th of every month, they take turns cleaning the village. But this time, the focus was not only on cleaning. It was on finding ways to manage waste sustainably.

Rahul and Hira ji laid out a clear plan. We divided into two mixed groups — Indiahikes teammates and Mahila Mandal members. For an hour, we combed the forest, clearing everything we found. The forest looked cleaner. But the real impact began afterwards.

Conversations Beyond Clean-Up

Back at the base, we spoke about what happens after the waste is picked up. The women shared that while they now keep dry and wet waste separately, segregation is not being done properly. Many expected Indiahikes to collect it from their homes. Earlier, a vehicle collected waste weekly, but that had stopped. The only option left was burning it. They knew it was harmful, but without alternatives, they had little choice.

That is when Alveera talked about composting — turning wet waste into compost for their farms. It was a small but practical shift. Yet, it was also clear that 15–20 women cannot change the waste practices of an entire village. To bring accountability, Akshay and Archna suggested involving the Pradhan in the next clean-up. Leadership had to be part of the solution.

The women also joined us in practising segregation right there. It was a start — small, but significant.

Looking Ahead

The clean-up underlined an important truth. This is not just about litter lying in the forest. It is about bigger consequences — changing weather patterns, a degrading forest, and the stress on natural resources. To address this, awareness has to spread wider. Involving the youth and children is critical — they will carry these practices forward.

The road ahead is long, but the process has begun. And that in itself is a reason for hope.

A Larger Effort at Indiahikes

What happened in Manali is not an isolated effort. Similar outreach initiatives are happening across Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Himachal. And we know this for certain — one-off clean-ups don’t create change. Sustainable change happens only when communities take ownership, when systems are built, and when behaviour slowly shifts. 

This is what we are working towards at Indiahikes. Because what we do off the trail is just as important as what we do on it.