From Ganga Ghats to Green Livelihoods: IAS Akshat Verma’s Innovation in Varanasi

Varanasi’s ghats receive thousands of devotees daily — and along with devotion comes a massive pile of discarded clothes. IAS Akshat Verma saw opportunity where others saw waste.

He partnered with local women’s self-help groups and launched an initiative to recycle discarded clothes into eco-friendly bags. Over time, more than 1 lakh bags were produced, reducing pollution and generating livelihoods.

This single idea tackled three problems at once — river pollution, women empowerment, and sustainable production — proving that smart administration doesn’t need big budgets, only big thinking.