Ganga Action Parivar (GAP) is a global family of professionals, engineers, scientists, activists, spiritual leaders, environmental specialists and dedicated sevaks (volunteers) dedicated to the preservation of the River Ganga and Her tributaries in their free-flowing and pristine, natural state and to the protection of over 500 million people who are dependent upon Ganga’s clean waters for their lives and livelihoods.

On April 4th, 2010 by the hands of H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswati, former Deputy Prime Minister Hon’ble Shri L.K. Advani, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Major General B.C. Khanduri and many revered saints and dignitaries, Ganga Action Parivar was officially launched at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh at a special “Sparsh Ganga” (“Divine Touch of Ganga”) function, an event to raise awareness about the need for collective and holistic, solution-based action to address the crucial issues facing the holy river. Since then, hundreds of supporters and family members have been mobilized, coming together to find solutions to the problems facing Ganga and Her tributaries.

The mobilization of this GAP family was critical to filling and bridging the gaps left by previous Ganga Action Plans, after which Ganga’s dire situation has continued to deteriorate. With Ganga irrigating the fields which feed more than one-third of India’s population, with Ganga being the sole source of water for bathing, cooking and drinking for millions of people, and with Ganga symbolizing the national heritage and identity of India, the situation has become truly critical.

Despite these challenges, Ganga Action Parivar knows that the power and spirit of love, unity and cooperation are the only ways to bring about true, sustainable change. GAP members have pledged to have Mother Ganga as the head of their family and are dedicated to bridging differences to work as one family, embracing all and including all.

We envision a clean River Ganga and all her tributaries with the constitutional right to flow uninhibited and to be protected from waste and pollution. We educate and inspire current and future generations in the value of stewardship across India and the world by working closely with a network of individuals, organizations, NGOs, religious leaders and their congregations, as well as local, state and national governments.

The beautiful and clean Mother Ganga.

GAP is a global family of professionals, engineers, scientists, activists, spiritual leaders, environmental specialists and volunteers dedicated to:

Conservation of the River Ganga and Her tributaries in their free flowing, pristine and natural state

Protection of over 500 million people dependent upon Ganga’s clean waters for their lives and livelihoods

Preservation of the rich cultural, spiritual and national heritage that Ganga forms the very essence

Promoting sustainable and innovative research to find workable solution and alternatives to pollution and flow obstruction 

Pujya Swamiji leads, inspires and guides the Ganga Action Parivar members with these vital guiding principles:

1. Only Mother Ganga is the head of this family and we all serve with our time, talent and technology to ensure Her free and pristine flow.

2. In a family we take less and give more, so too in this family we strive to give, give and give, just like Mother Ganga and Mother Nature, with no hesitation, no expectation, no discrimination and no vacation.

3. Let us not criticize the system but contribute to the system. GAP pledges to not waste precious time and energy criticizing the system or previous plans rather channels this energy to become a vital part of the solution.

4. We encourage the involvement of everyone, regardless of age, gender, caste or creed, race or religion, because we know that Mother Ganga and Water belongs to all.

5. Mother Ganga, to us, is the Green Ambassador for all water bodies and the environment therefore efforts to preserve and protect all rivers and Mother Earth is part and parcel of our own humble efforts to save the planet for our future generations.