A Serbian yoga student living in India has launched a unique cleanliness campaign urging people to take responsibility for just two meters outside their homes or shops. The idea is simple, practical, and already inspiring citizens to act
New Delhi: It took a foreigner to remind Indians of something that should have been obvious. Amid overflowing drains and litter-strewn lanes in Gurugram, a Serbian yoga student named Lazar has launched a campaign with the simplest possible rule: keep two metres outside your home or shop clean.
“India is one of the most beautiful countries in the world,” Lazar says, “but the problem is what happens outside the doorstep. Indians are among the cleanest people inside their homes, but the moment it comes to public spaces, many think it’s not their problem. That has to change.”
How a Personal Habit Turned Into a Public Campaign
Lazar, who moved to India in 2018 to study yoga and practice psychotherapy, has been cleaning up streets quietly for years. Wherever he travelled—Tamil Nadu, Bengaluru, Rishikesh—he picked up brooms and gloves. But ten days ago in Gurugram, his personal efforts took the shape of an organised campaign.
Since then, videos of Lazar and other foreign nationals clearing roadsides, drains and dumping spots have gone viral, triggering a storm of reactions. Some citizens praised the dedication: “This is inspiring. If they can do it, why not us?” Others admitted it was embarrassing that outsiders had to highlight the problem.
Big Change Begins Two Metres from Your Doorstep
What makes Lazar’s “2-metre rule” different is its practicality. Unlike massive clean-up drives, rallies or government-backed marathons, this idea doesn’t need big resources.
“All I ask is: clean the two metres outside your home or shop,” Lazar explains. “If every citizen does just that, we won’t need huge campaigns. Streets will look different in a week.”
Public Reaction
The mantra is catching on. Social media is flooded with posts using hashtags like #2MeterCleanIndia and #ILoveMyIndia. Many users have pledged to take charge of their street-fronts, while neighbourhood WhatsApp groups are sharing before-and-after pictures.
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A Simple Act of Civic Pride
For Lazar, this isn’t about foreigner vs. local. It’s about love for India. Standing with a broom in hand, he puts it bluntly: “That’s all you can do for your country—keep two metres clean. I love my India, and if we want cleanliness, it can easily be done.”
As videos of foreigners sweeping Indian streets continue to circulate, the bigger question now rests with citizens themselves: will they rise to the challenge and own their two metres?
