Army of young interns: From classrooms to communities, shaping the future of urban sustainability, JMC launches Phase-II of Swachhata Internship

JAMMU:  In an initiative that foregrounds youth participation in urban governance, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) launched Phase-II of the Swachhata Internship Programme. The effort seeks to mobilise a group of student interns as agents of behavioural change, linking classroom learning with community action to advance the city’s sustainability goals.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Devansh Yadav, Commissioner, JMC, at Government High School, City Chowk. It marks the beginning of a series of structured workshops to be conducted across schools in Jammu city.

Addressing students, Dr. Yadav described them as the “true architects of a cleaner future”, underscoring that environmental stewardship must be inculcated early. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s quote that “cleanliness is next to godliness”, he said that embedding such values in young minds would translate into sustained civic responsibility in the years ahead. He also expressed satisfaction at the enthusiasm displayed by students, noting that such engagement is critical to converting awareness into action.

In the second phase of the Swachhata Internship Programme, the focus has been expanded to deepen practical engagement and field-based learning, enabling students to move beyond awareness towards active participation in waste management and sustainability practices.

The programme includes practical training on waste segregation at source, demonstrations on composting of kitchen waste and awareness sessions on menstrual hygiene and plastic pollution. Field visits to Material Recovery Facilities are also planned to provide students with first-hand exposure to scientific waste management systems.

The initiative reflects a broader shift towards participatory governance, with civic bodies increasingly relying on youth-led interventions to strengthen environmental outcomes at the grassroot.