As the calendar turns its final page, the air buzzes with the promise of a New Year. This is the moment we reflect on what matters most and commit to becoming better--better individuals, better neighbours, and better citizens. This year, let us trade the usual personal resolutions for a collective one, a resolution so simple, yet so profoundly powerful it can transform the face of our nation: Let's make India a litter-free nation. The challenge of cleanliness often feels overwhelming. We look at the mountains of waste and sigh, convinced that the task belongs to the municipality, the government, or someone else.

 

This is where the brilliant power of simplicity, and the simple initiative, "Everyone Every Sunday 100 meters”, comes in." The 100-Meter Resolution campaign is built on the belief that a big change comes from billions of small, consistent actions. The motherland is not asking you to dedicate your entire weekend or travel miles away to a clean-up drive. It is asking for just one hour, once a week, dedicated to the space immediately surrounding your own life. Here is the New Year's Resolution every citizen should adopt: I resolve that, every Sunday in 2026, I will dedicate a minimum of one hour to cleaning the 100-meter stretch of road, lane, or public space directly surrounding my home, office, or school.

 

Think of it: 100 meters is roughly the length of a single football field or a simple, five-minute walk. It is the distance you cover while buying milk or waiting for your bus. By taking ownership of just that small, personal radius, you achieve three monumental things:

 

1. A Clean India, Starting with Your Front Door: If every household cleans 100 meters, it instantly blankets every street, every colony, and every neighbourhood in the country.

The collective impact will be visible within weeks.

2. A Change in Mindset: When you personally pick up the litter, you become exponentially less likely to drop it again. It shifts the culture from "someone else will clean 'this is my space, and I will keep it clean.'

3. Community Pride: A clean neighbourhood is a safe, healthy, and happy neighbourhood. It fosters pride and encourages children to adopt responsible habits from a young age. Your Contribution is More Than Just Cleanliness This resolution is not just about moving trash; it is about moving hearts. It is a declaration of your love and respect for your community and your country. This New Year, forget the fad diets and the gym memberships you might abandon by February. Adopt a resolution that is easy to sustain and offers an immediate, tangible reward a cleaner, more beautiful India. Let us not wait for an event or a national holiday. Let us start this Sunday, the first Sunday of the New Year. Step out with your gloves and a garbage bag. Rally your family, your neighbours, and the shopkeepers on your street. Everyone Every Sunday, 100 meters” is an invitation to be the change you wish to see. Let's make 2026 the year we honour our Motherland with the dignity and cleanliness she deserves. Will you commit to walking the 100-meter mile? (The author is the founder of ‘Everyone Every Sunday 100 metres’ initiative.)