Problem Statement:

The propensity among Indian citizens to litter public places is a large and deep-rooted problem. While littering is an offense, it is one that is rarely enforced. Citizens in Chandigarh need an effective deterrent in order to stop littering.

Target Group:

Citizens who litter the streets and other public spaces.

Proposed Solution:

A campaign to change the behavioral patterns of citizens littering streets by creating a social deterrent, i.e. clapping. Project members visit a public space and patiently wait for someone to litter. The offender is then surrounded by the team who claps for them 15 times and disperses into the crowd again. This is followed up by one member approaching the offender and speaking to him/her to make them realize their mistake and sensitize them to the problem.

Hub Activities:

The campaign started locally in Chandigarh. But soon the message spread and the hub organized more than a hundred campaigns with over 5,000 members pan India.

The following activities were carried out:

• On-ground clapping campaigns to create a deterrent


• Media awareness campaigns


• Social media viral campaigns


• Awareness sessions for school students


• Partnership with local civic bodies (Municipal Corporations, health dept etc.) to help them clean the cities

Short & Long-Term Results:

• The campaign created a deterrent in the minds of people so that they don’t litter public spaces, and local chapters of Viral Claps were formed in 17 cities of India


• The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation approached the hub, and together with their help dustbins were installed all across the city


• The government of India recognized the campaign and incorporated it within the ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyan’. Videos of the hub’s viral claps were then shown in cinemas to promote the bigger agenda


• Several members involved in this project became changemakers a cleaner environment

Available Metrics:

• The project reached over 10 million people via social media, TV, radio, awareness sessions and on-ground campaigns


• 5000+ volunteers participated in the on-ground campaigns


• 500+ on-ground campaigns held 


• 100+ school awareness sessions