YourStory founder Shradha Sharma has sparked an extraordinary wave of citizen mobilisation after taking to X (formerly Twitter) to speak openly and urgently about Delhi’s worsening air quality. Her post, which combined personal distress with a structured action plan, quickly evolved into one of the capital’s most engaging civic responses to toxic winter smog.
A deeply personal alarm and a call for collective responsibility
Shradha began by grounding her concern in personal experience, revealing how moving back to Delhi, a city she cherishes, has instead left her physically unwell. She wrote:
“I have moved my base to New Delhi recently, a city very close to my heart. But I have been feeling really underwhelmed. During my college years at St Stephen’s, winters were beautiful and we used to look forward to foggy days. But it’s not the same anymore. I wake up every morning feeling my throat is scratchy. I feel sick every time I step out — and you can’t just stay at home in the air purifier all day. Delhi air is a real problem and I feel we, as citizens, are not doing enough to turn things around.”
Her appeal quickly turns from personal testimony to public urgency as she asked: “Can we do something?”
Calling on the ingenuity of India’s startup ecosystem, she reminded her audience of its problem-solving capabilities:
“As a member of India’s startup ecosystem, I feel we can do a lot more than just building our ventures. We have the sharpest minds solving some of the most complex problems — day in and day out. Can we take a few hours out and spend time brainstorming solutions for some of the most pressing challenges that we face as a society?”
She warned that for Delhi’s residents and their families, “air pollution has become an existential crisis.”
Shradha then outlined a three-step framework for a citizen-led response:
- “Let’s get together in Delhi and brainstorm some ideas on what it is that citizens can do to respond to this crisis. Just ideas and brainstorms, no cameras, no audience.“
- “We compile ideas and solutions in a document and we present it to the relevant authorities. We also tell them specifically what we can do to help them.“
- “And if the authorities want, we volunteer some time and resources that may be needed to fix this challenge.“
She invited citizens to sign up through a public form, launching the initiative.
500+ applications in under 48 hours
Sharing a video in her next post, Shradha expressed surprise and gratitude at the overwhelming response from citizens eager to help.
“I made a request hoping we could do something about Delhi’s air pollution crisis together. In less than 2 days, I have more than 500 plus applications — almost all of them with some brilliant, very actionable ideas. Just wanted to offer my deepest gratitude to all of you who engaged with my post. Let’s take this forward in the coming week.”
The scale and speed of participation highlighted the pent-up public desire for a meaningful avenue to contribute.
Over 600 messages – and an online meeting scheduled for Friday
In her latest update on December 1, Sharma revealed that the movement had expanded even further.
“We got more than 600 messages from amazing people who really care about Delhi’s air situation. Since this is a large group with several people from outside of Delhi, I will first be holding an online meeting this Friday at 7.00 PM. We have sent out links to all the people who had written in to us! I will be sharing details of the in-person meeting later! My heartfelt gratitude to all of you! — Shradha”
This online session will serve as the first collective gathering of participants, after which a physical meeting will be organised.
Delhi’s air crisis: The backdrop to this citizen awakening
Shradha’s initiative comes at a critical moment. Delhi’s air pollution continues to sit in the hazardous zone as winter sets in.
On December 1, 2025, Delhi-NCR recorded an average AQI of 373 (Severe), with PM10 levels at 283 µg/m³, according to Indian Express.
Several areas recorded choking readings: Kashmiri Gate (409), Jahangirpuri (404) and Safdarjung Enclave (435).
A Business Standard national assessment earlier this year found that Delhi had the worst winter-air quality in India in 2024–25, with average PM2.5 at 159 µg/m³.
Doctors from major hospitals including AIIMS have documented increasing cases of respiratory distress, chronic sinus inflammation, headaches, and immune-trigger responses tied to prolonged exposure.
A rare citizen-led mobilisation with growing expectations
Shradha’s initiative is notable because it avoids theatrics: no cameras, no speeches, no institutional agenda – just citizens willing to confront a shared crisis.
Her posts have resonated deeply because they blend emotional honesty, structured action, and a refusal to accept helplessness.
With the online brainstorming meet scheduled for Friday and hundreds of people preparing to participate, the coming week will show how this citizen-powered platform can convert collective concern into actionable solutions.
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