Overview

The "Shahar Zinda Karo" (Bring the City to Life) sanitation drive, led by Pathankot‑based educator and public‑interest worker Srijal Gupta, has installed a total of twenty‑five portable public toilets across the district’s trading hubs. The rollout is coordinated with the local Vyapar Mandal (traders’ association) and follows a model of installing a unit and then handing it over to market traders for ongoing maintenance, rather than relying on municipal provision.

Recent Installation

The most recent handover occurred at Gurjeet Market, where the keys to the newly installed toilet were given to the Vyapar Mandal. Local shopkeeper Pritam Singh volunteered to oversee its upkeep, describing the arrangement as "shared ownership" rather than charity. Gupta emphasizes that the market belongs to the community, and its sanitation is a collective duty.

Campaign Philosophy and Prior Coverage

Gupta asserts that a city cannot claim dignity without market toilets, stating that sanitation is not solely a government responsibility. The initiative was previously reported by The Tribune. The guiding slogan, "Pehle Zinda Karo, Phir Sundar Karo" (first bring the city to life, then make it beautiful), underpins the campaign’s focus on dignity‑first infrastructure.

Complementary Programs

Under the broader #MuskurahatWalaPathankot banner, the campaign also runs the Shree Jal Abhiyan, which distributes oral rehydration salts, cooling drinks, and protective caps to outdoor workers such as rickshaw pullers, street vendors, and daily‑wage labourers during the summer heat.

Upcoming Activities

On August 9, ahead of Independence Day, organisers will conduct a cleanliness march titled "Zinda Kooch" (Living March). More than one hundred volunteers will distribute two hundred dustbins to shopkeepers under the tagline "Iss 15 August, Kuda Toh Azaadi" (This August 15, Freedom From Garbage), echoing the historic Dandi March.

Wider Civic Engagements

Gupta curates TEDxCaledonian, now in its fourth edition. The 2026 programme, themed "Confluence," is scheduled for October 10‑11 and will feature British MP and former UK cabinet minister Sir Grant Shapps. Past speakers have included former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, former Maltese Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Muscat, and former Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio.

Educational and International Outreach

Gupta founded Caledonian International School in Pathankot in 2017, a UNESCO ASPnet‑affiliated institution where he serves as ASPnet Coordinator. He authored Pratisthana’s Promise, framing his civic work in terms of place and belonging. In February 2026, he met European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and was interviewed by an MEP, and he addressed the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels on sustainable cities. He also produced a "Pathankot Global Gateway Vision 2030" concept note for EU‑India cooperation, later turned into a white paper for MEP outreach.

Affiliations and Future Platforms

Gupta’s affiliations include the Aspen Institute (Vanguard Member), Chatham House (Geopolitics of Technology Leadership Fellow, 2026 cohort), the Obama Foundation (Founding Member), the World Economic Forum, the Indo‑French Chamber of Commerce, and the Generation Global programme. He is developing JunctionX Pathankot, a local edition of the Finland‑based Junction hackathon network, to give Pathankot’s young engineers and designers exposure to global platforms.

Political Context

Although his name has surfaced in local discussions ahead of Punjab’s 2027 Assembly elections, Gupta maintains that he is a public‑interest worker, not a politician, and separates his civic work from any electoral ambitions.

Contact

Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/srijal14

Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NRDPL. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.