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A 21-year-old Indian student's tireless efforts to clean up a heavily polluted river in Madhya Pradesh have led to a job offer from an international environmental group.
Surendra Singh Chaudhary, known online as 'Bittu Tabahi', recently went viral after taking it upon himself to clear the Ajnar River, which was clogged with plastic waste, algae, and other debris.
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His work caught the attention of Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of Netherlands-based non-profit The Ocean Cleanup, who publicly offered him a role with the organisation in a post on X.
Chaudhary launched his clean-up campaign in late January after growing frustrated with the accumulation of waste and the inaction of the local municipality.
He initially began the effort with a few friends, but continued alone when the others dropped out.
Armed with only basic tools and minimal safety gear, the student manually extracted tonnes of garbage from the water.
Chaudhary said he spent his own savings on cleaning supplies and that the gruelling work took a severe toll on his health. He suffered limb infections, skin rashes, and encounters with snakes, but persevered.
His efforts turned him into a local hero, prompting Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to invite him to his official residence, where he praised the initiative and promised government support.
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