India’s Rivers: A Crisis of Extinction and Livelihoods. You’re sitting in your room, comfortable, at leisure, maybe just a little hungry.
And suddenly, your favorite dish, a slice of pizza, comes hanging down from the roof.
You rush to grab a bite, only to feel a sharp sting. There’s a steel hook attached. Before you can react, it’s lodged in your throat.
You try to scream, but no sound comes out.

You’re being dragged upwards, away from air, away from life, into a space where there’s no oxygen. You gasp, struggle, flail for freedom. But there is none. Then, you’re skinned, cooked, and devoured. If this sounds horrific, it should. Because this is exactly what happens to a fish. Trapped by bait, suffocated to death, and tortured, oftentimes, oftentimes, just for leisure.

Thanks to this, coupled with pollution, climate change, and other factors, 24% of freshwater fish species today are on the brink of extinction. India’s freshwater ecosystems, home to over 1,200 fish species, are in a state of rapid decline. Pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing, and the far-reaching effects of climate change have created a perfect storm.

This ecological collapse isn’t confined to the environment. It is a socio-economic disaster that jeopardizes the livelihoods of millions, diminishes food security, and disrupts entire communities dependent on these water bodies. India’s rivers, once teeming with life, are now drowning in crisis. Gasping for air with them is the livelihood for millions that these ecosystems support.

Pramod Yashvant Mali, after having left behind a stable career in Mumbai to dedicate his life to saving India’s endangered fish species, is serving as a breath of fresh air, quite literally.

He has committed himself to an extraordinary mission: saving India’s endangered fish and restoring balance to its rivers. So far, here are the key Achievements of Pramod’s Mission:

• Releasing Life Back Into Rivers: Over 3 lakh juvenile fish from nine endangered species have been hatched and reintroduced into India’s rivers, reversing ecological damage and restoring biodiversity.
• Empowering Fishermen with Sustainable Practices: Pramod trains fishing communities in eco-friendly methods, ensuring they can sustain their livelihoods without harming fragile aquatic ecosystems.
• Raising Conservation Awareness: Through community engagement programs, eco-tours, and hands-on training, Pramod spreads awareness about the importance of freshwater conservation and the role of indigenous species in maintaining ecological balance.

What Pramod began as a lone mission with limited resources has now grown into a powerful movement of conservation and community empowerment, the benefits of which go beyond protecting fish! They bleed into protecting our rivers, our ecosystems, and the millions of people who depend on them.

But the question is: How long can one man carry a burden that belongs to all of us?
How long will a handful of people fight to protect something that sustains everyone?
Heroes like Pramod need our support. Our rivers need our voice. Our future needs our action. It’s time to stop watching from the sidelines. It’s time to stop being a bystander, and turn into a hero.

Let’s start today !