VIRAM: Agenda Sustainability

A Campaign for Population Stabilisation and Environmental Resilience

An 12-episode series posting bold questions and sparking urgent dialogue on population, environment, and our collective future.

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Overview

Population growth, when aligned with thoughtful planning and inclusive development, presents an opportunity to shape a more sustainable future. VIRAM approached this critical issue with a solutions-driven lens – highlighting how informed choices, equitable access to resources, and education can ease environmental pressures and strengthen climate resilience. Through a 12-episode docuseries, expert-led conversations, sustained social media engagement, and on-ground activations, the initiative empowered audiences to see sustainability not as a constraint, but as a pathway to healthier communities and a balanced planet.

Launched on 23 November 2022, VIRAM: Agenda Sustainability was a year-long public awareness campaign by the Mobius Foundation, in partnership with the India Today Network. By reframing the link between population and environmental sustainability as a shared responsibility – and a shared opportunity – the campaign fostered constructive dialogue, encouraged responsible family planning, and reinforced the role of education and innovation in building a more resilient and hopeful future.

How We Did It

Launch Event

The VIRAM: Agenda Sustainability launch event, organized by Mobius Foundation in collaboration with the India Today Group, served as a pivotal platform to spark nationwide dialogue on population stabilisation as a critical pillar of sustainability.
The event featured a compelling Fireside Chat between Mr. Pradip Burman, Chairman of Mobius Foundation, and Ms. Akshita Nandagopal, who discussed initiatives like Project Aakar. The Curtain Raiser Session, hosted by Mr. Sayeed Ansari, included a special guest address by comedian and performer Mr. Zakir Khan.
Two Expert Panel Discussions followed: the first, moderated by Ms. Nandagopal, brought together experts like Mr. C. K. Mishra and others to examine the multifaceted impacts of overpopulation; the second featured thought leaders such as Ms. Poonam Muttreja, Mr. Amitabh Kundu, Swami Prem Parivartan, and Dr. Ram Boojh, focusing on data, policy, and grassroots perspectives for sustainable population management.

Culmination Conclave

The culminating event of the year-long VIRAM: Agenda Sustainability campaign, organised by the Mobius Foundation in collaboration with the India Today Group, brought together prominent policymakers, environmentalists, academics, and media figures to address the urgent issue of population stabilisation as a critical component of sustainable development. The event featured a powerful one-on-one interaction between Mr. Pradip Burman, Chairman of Mobius Foundation, and Chief Guest Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, Member of Rajya Sabha, highlighting the demographic and ecological stakes of unchecked population growth.

Panel Discussions included:

The English panel, hosted by Ms. Nabila Jamal, featured experts like Kiran Karnik, Mr. Praveen Garg, Poonam Muttreja, and Arun Krishnamurthy, who examined the global implications of demographic imbalance.
The Hindi panel, moderated by Mr. Sayeed Ansari, delved into the interdependence of population control and environmental resources with panelists including G.V.L. Narasimha Rao, Dr. Ram Boojh, Siddharth Kak, and Akash Ranison.

Episodes

Episode 1 | Launch

Episode 2 | Climate Change Vs Population

Episode 3 | Air Pollution Vs Population

Episode 4 | Water Pollution Vs Population

Episode 5 | Biodiversity

Episode 6 | Population Vs Over consumption And Waste (Part 1)

Episode 6 |Population Vs Over consumption And Waste (Part 2)

Episode 7 | International Conference on Sustainability Education

Episode 8 | Natural Resources (Part 1)

Episode 8 | Natural Resources (Part 2)

Episode 9 | Education (Part 1)

Episode 9 | Education (Part 2)

Episode 9 | Education (Part 3)

Episode 10 | Agriculture (Part 1)

Episode 10 | Agriculture (Part 2)

Episode 11 | Jobs and Poverty (Part 1)

Episode 11 | Jobs and Poverty (Part 2)

Episode 12 | Conclave

Select Voices

Hon. Mr. Bhupendra Yadav

Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Environment, Forest and Climate Change

“Keeping the city and its air clean is our collective responsibility. Clean, green energy must be emphasized in industry.”

Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi

Member, Rajya Sabha

“Addressing overpopulation and its impact on climate change requires a multi-dimensional approach, starting with awareness and education.”

Mr. Ashwini Kumar Choubey

Hon. Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

“When population increases, it will result in increased consumption. The balance between resources and our population must be maintained. Otherwise, it will lead to a crisis in food, farming, textiles; everything.”

Mr. Nekram Sharma

Farmer and Padma Shri Awardee

“A significant transformation is required in the way farming is practiced. Modern, resource-intensive agricultural methods have often prioritized short-term gains over long-term sustainability.”

Dr. Kumar Vishwas

Hindi Poet, Speaker and Socio-political Activist

“When I see a helpless animal in chains, I wonder who is the real animal; the one who’s been chained or the one holding the chains.”

Mr. Zakir Khan

Standup Comedian

“Education is a catalyst for individual empowerment and societal transformation.”

Mr. G. V. L. Narasimha Rao

Member, Rajya Sabha

“India’s government recognizes population explosion as a major challenge and is taking serious steps to address it. A high-powered committee has been established to explore solutions for population control and family planning, reflecting the government’s strategic commitment.”

Mr. Nitish Bhardwaj

Actor, Director and Writer

“Population control has lot of aspects. One is illiteracy and education. Second is awareness. Awareness of the woman, awareness of the man.”

Mr. Kiran Karnik

Padma Shri Awardee and Former President of NASSCOM

“The current model of resource use is unsustainable and will lead to ecological and economic crises without intervention. However, there is a positive shift in demographic trends, with many countries reaching population stabilization. India is expected to stabilize at around 1.6 billion people by 2047-2050 before gradually decreasing to 1 billion by 2100.”

Mr. Siddharth Kak

Indian Documentary Filmmaker, Television Producer, and Presenter

“Media is a powerful tool for shaping public perception, but lectures and awareness campaigns are not enough. Effective initiatives require collaboration across sectors—government bodies, NGOs, media professionals, educators, cultural leaders, and community influencers—to build a movement that inspires change.”

Mr. Afroz Shah

Environmentalist

“Plastic pollution is a major threat, with millions of tons entering water bodies annually, affecting marine species and human health.”

Mr. Arun Krishnamurthy

Founder, Environmentalist Foundation of India

“The relationship between population growth and consumption patterns is deeply intertwined, with crowded cities driving up demand for housing, energy, water, and food.”