Aruna Joshi

Indian environmental activist who pioneered the 'Clean Mumbai' movement

Aruna Joshi (born 1948) emerged as a key figure in India's environmental movement during the late 1980s. Her groundbreaking 'Clean Mumbai' campaign (1985-1990) transformed India's approach to urban sanitation. By mobilizing 50,000 volunteers through her organization Clean City Ship, she successfully reduced garbage accumulation in Mumbai by 70% within three years. This initiative inspired similar programs nationwide and led to India's first municipal waste management policies. Joshi's innovative use of citizen patrols and public shaming of litterers set new standards for community-driven environmental action. Her work was featured in National Geographic's 1992 documentary "Urban Green Warriors", and she later advised the UN Habitat program on informal sector waste management. In 2003, she pioneered the world's first women-led recycling cooperative in Dharavi slum, creating 1,200 jobs while processing 15 tons of waste daily. Her legacy includes the Joshi Environmental Leadership Award, awarded annually to grassroots activists.