Young activist’s 7,000-km walk highlights climate and animal welfare issues

When Ayan Banerjee stepped into Nellore in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday night, the 24-year-old climate and animal welfare activist marked a major milestone in an unconventional journey that has seen her traverse 2,417 kilometers of India’s coastline on foot.

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Ayan, who was named PETA India Volunteer of the Year in 2020 at the age of 18, completed 100 days on the road on June 10 as part of the 7,000-kilometer Karuna Padayatra trek that started on March 3 in West Bengal’s Sundarbans. Traveling without a vehicle and surviving largely on community support, Ayan aims to follow a geographical V-shaped route across nine States and four Union Territories before reaching the city. Gujarat.

Padayatra is neither political nor commercial. Instead, it is an attempt to draw attention to climate sustainability, environmental awareness, compassionate living, and the welfare of animals and communities.

“Walking is slow, but that’s exactly why it works,” says Ayan. “It allows me to reach places I often miss and spend time listening to people.”

It held environmental awareness sessions in more than 12 schools along the route, distributed more than 2,000 organic vegetable seed packets to rural communities, and fed stray animals, especially cows and dogs, using its own resources. He now hopes to distribute more than 9,000 seeds along the way as he reaches Chennai on the next leg of his journey.

One of the notable stops on the Andhra Pradesh leg was Kondakarla Ava in Anakapalli district. There, Banerjee partnered with Icha Foundation, a social welfare organization that works with children and vulnerable communities. During his short stay there, he introduced the concept of adopting plant-based meals twice a week at the foundation; This is a step that Ayan believes promotes both compassion and sustainable living.

“Small changes are often more impactful than big announcements. If communities can adopt even a few sustainable practices, the impact accumulates over time,” he says.

The Andhra Pradesh portion of the journey also introduced him to concerns about aquaculture and its effects on local ecosystems. During his interactions with farmers and residents in Krishna district and neighboring areas, Ayan says he repeatedly hears stories of changing water quality, soil degradation and pressures on traditional livelihoods.

“People who live near water bodies and work the land have a clear understanding of what’s going on around them. Their observations deserve to be heard,” he says.

Water emerged as a recurring concern throughout the trip. From the Sundarbans to coastal Andhra Pradesh, access to safe drinking water has surfaced repeatedly in talks.

24-year-old activist Ayan Banerjee has trekked 7,000 kilometers along India’s coastline, carrying stories of environmental woes, kindness and grassroots action. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL EDITING

“Drinking water was one of the primary concerns in the Sundarbans. I came across people collecting water from leaking roadside pipelines. Similar concerns about water quality emerged in different forms in various regions,” he says.

Ayan’s daily routine usually involves walking between 30 and 50 kilometers. For the first 50 days he traveled without any organized support team, visiting schools and communities in West Bengal and Odisha independently. Today, accommodation is often arranged through local residents, while a small outreach and social media team helps document the journey.

“When I travel, I stay in people’s homes. I do not accept money from individuals. Instead, I am met with generosity, hospitality, and a willingness to participate in positive actions,” he says.

To commemorate the completion of 100 days on the road, Ayan launched the 100th Day Challenge by inviting people from Andhra Pradesh and across the country to walk a kilometer and do a good deed. Participants are encouraged to plant a seed, feed an animal, or share a plant-based meal.

This challenge reflects the core idea behind Karuna Padayatra: social and environmental change need not start with institutions or grand campaigns, but can start with everyday actions.

24-year-old activist Ayan Banerjee has trekked 7,000 kilometers along India’s coastline, carrying stories of environmental woes, kindness and grassroots action. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL EDITING

It is also documenting the journey towards a future film project and collaborated with environmental organizations such as Climate Healers and Bodhi Greens Foundation during the walk.

With a long journey ahead, the road to Gujarat stretches. For Ayan, distance is also measured in conversations.

“Most people are kinder than we think,” he says. “When you go around the villages and towns you see the desire to help, to care and to participate. This gives me hope.”

It was published – 13 June 2026 11:26 IST