Women riders from the Northeast champion a cleaner Himalayas

Seven women riders from Northeast India, aged between 21 and 46, are on a ‘Ride for a Cleaner Himalayas’. The eight day ride began on March 8 will end on March 15. The journey supports and spreads awareness about the Himalayan Fringes Project, in collaboration with the Royal Enfield Social Mission, an initiative of the non-profit Further & Beyond, supported by the Indian Army. The purpose-led expedition focuses on building waste-free mountain communities. By working closely with villages, the initiative encourages practical, locally driven systems to address the growing waste challenge in the Himalayas.

The ride began on International Women’s Day, March 8. The riders—Sudha Pradhan (27), Sikkim; Marina Subba (27), Sikkim; Dimpirekha Tamuly (28), Assam; Krithika Brahma (21), Assam; Roshni Bengia (22), Arunachal Pradesh; Chetjawa Mannow (27), Arunachal Pradesh; Roshni Rai (46), North Bengal; and Hazel Tariang (30), Meghalaya—will learn about waste management in fragile Himalayan ecosystems.

The aim is to build a network of ‘eco-ambassadors’ across the Northeast. Each rider represents her region and will take these learnings back home to raise awareness and inspire local action on waste management. Riders from Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and North Bengal began their journey from Guwahati, travelling through Tezpur, Chullyu, Lemi, Tenga and Chug before reaching Zemithang.

The HFP works with mountain villages in Arunachal Pradesh to develop community-based waste systems rooted in local culture, knowledge and stewardship of the land. The learning experience begins with visits to landfills—an essential step in understanding the scale of waste generated.

Project Director Merwyn Coutinho says the ride is designed as an immersive learning experience. “Participants observe how waste is generated, handled and managed in mountain regions. Through interactions with local communities, clean-up initiatives and on-ground demonstrations, riders gain practical insights into waste segregation, recycling systems and community-led solutions.”

The expedition will culminate at the two-day Gorsam Kora Festival, beginning March 15 in Zemithang. Thousands of pilgrims gather around the historic Gorsam Chorten during the festival, offering riders an opportunity to observe and participate in large-scale waste management efforts at a major cultural gathering in the Himalayas.

Over the past two years, under this initiative, the people of Zemithang and local stakeholders, including the Monpa community, have made significant strides in community-led sustainable waste management. The Women’s Edition of the ride hopes to spark conversation as well as practical action to keep the Himalayan region clean and resilient.

Why women riders? Merwyn explains: “By connecting women riders, environmental learning and community engagement, ‘Ride for a Cleaner Himalayas’ aims to shift the conversation from clean-ups to systems. Waste is not just about picking things up after it appears; it is about understanding how it is created and how it moves through a community. Ultimately, it raises a simple question: what if each of us took responsibility for the waste we generate?”