The 8^th annual CLEAN-India Meet was held on 5th February, 2005 in New Delhi. The CLEAN-India Meet was a forum for CLEAN-India members across the country to interact and voice their concerns about the state of environment in their respective towns/cities.  It was an opportunity for them to showcase their activities and the remedial actions taken by them to improve the environment quality.   

Over 300 students, teachers and NGO coordinators from Delhi, Nagpur, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Jhansi, Gwalior, Sagar, Indore, Lucknow, Bangalore, Pudukottai, Dindigul, and Nagercoil participated in the meet this year. Dr. Alexander Spachis, Minister Counsellor, Delegation of European Commission to India was the Chief Guest for the day. 

The theme of this year’s CLEAN meet was Community Action. Thirteen of the CLEAN-India centres including Delhi presented and shared their initiatives and successes in community action for environment conservation. The day previous to the meet (4^th Feb, 2004) was devoted to exposure visits to environmental action initiatives taken up under the CLEAN-India programme in various communities and schools in Delhi.  

Students from the various CLEAN-India centres set up exhibits of the various environment actions performed by them at the community level. These included paper recycling, tree plantation, vermi-composting, medicinal plants and their use, water harvesting and purification etc.

A Placard making competition on the theme of paper recycling was organised. This was followed by a formation of the Human chain .A Clay Modelling competition was also held in which children made beautiful idols of Lord Ganesha. The idea was to promote eco-friendly idol immersion. 

Dr. HY Mohan Ram, eminent professor from DU, made a presentation on trees and medicinal herbs.  Mr. B. Sengupta, Member Secretary CPCB, praised the efforts of Development Alternatives in assessing and managing the air and water quality of the city.  

 CLEAN-Gwalior, CLEAN- Dindigul and CLEAN-Aurangabad were awarded the best CLEAN-Central, South and West Zone centre trophies respectively for their concerted efforts in the field of environment community action. The stall on vermi-composting by CLEAN- Bangalore was declared the best stall at the exhibition. Carmel Convent and Salwan School (Morning) got the first prizes in the Clay modelling and Placard making competitions respectively. Salwan Public School (Morning) also won the best CLEAN- Delhi school award for the year 2004-05.

Glimpses of 8^th Annual CLEAN-India Meet 2005