(Starting a new series of blogs based on my experience in implementing zero waste management project at Tungabhadra Block, sponsored by Association for India's Development )
My love for nature dates back to my childhood. Brought up in a pristine environment , I had a very strong connection with nature which I forgot in my journey for making money and climbing the corporate ladder. In year 2006 , I happened to attend Prof R Rajagopalan's one week workshop at Auroville on environmental sustainability. Later I happened to be part of Sanctuary Asia's "Kid's for Tigers" initiative as a volunteer to instill environment awareness in children. It helped me connect with children across various schools in Bangalore. Beyond this, got a rare opportunity to trail through the forests with Dr. Anish Andheria , a fine wildlife biologist and Director of Sanctuary Asia. The workshops, the wildlife trails awakened the nature lover in me and I felt a strong urge to work towards a cause that was for the planet .
In year 2007, I adopted the Khambha (www.dailydump.org) for composting my food waste. Dr Meenakshi Bharath, a gynecologist turned environmentalist had anchored a one day workshop later in year 2008 to introduce C Srinivasan to Bangaloreans. C Srinivasan is better known as Vellore Srinivasan. Srinivasan's workshop convinced me that the way to do waste management in large scale was inevitable and important for this society. Since then I was on a personal mission to implement zero waste management within a community , it didn't matter if the community was small or big, the important aspect was to implement the model ....
While I spoke to many people about this model, there was always a mixed response, some felt Srinivasan is a mere talker, some felt it is not viable to use cows , some felt economic sustainability is not possible and few were of the opinion that it could work. To me, everything was new. All I knew was I was not an expert on waste management - from the many people I had met, it was Srinivasan who seemed to have good knowledge on waste management and its entire cycle, be it wet waste composting or dry waste segregation and sale and he had practical experience from implementing projects.
In year 2010, Association for India's Development was looking for prospective communities who could implement the Vellore model in an urban community. That was when my desire to implement waste management in a community met with AID's desire to sponsor a project - with the strong support of Vellore Srinivasan.
The Starting Trouble
It is not enough if we have desire , it is important to have will and the patience and persistence. I realised this truth during my 6 month long persuasion with Karnataka Housing Board to approve land that was used as a semi-dump yard behind our block. Everyday, before leaving for office, I would go and wait in front of the assistant executive engineer. He was a good man and we need to understand his position before they approve a land . After about 3 months of persuasion, it came from him," I wanted to know how serious you were ..". Well, for someone who makes it like a ritual going to KHB office everyday, the desire and will could be strong.. but that is when I realised I need to have more patience.. Govt has very courteous people, they make you submit various documents and letters on behalf of the association , they will keep it safe in their files .. but it may take them few months to take action.
There was one basic question from KHB , "how will you do waste management" ? None of them were aware at that point in time.. All we had to do was to make them watch the movie "Garbage to Gold " (/www.zerowastemanagement.org) which gave a strong message through Vellore Srinivasan's implementation of waste management . Since this was the first urban model being implemented, it was difficult to show a working model within Bangalore and inspire people to take action.
People in Government Offices : We come with a baggage that "all government people are bad". Well, like all of us they too have families, they deal with problems of this city more than we do. However they are also caught in tug of wars by politicians or low level officers who want to make some quick buck. The entire credit of approving the land goes to the Chief Engineer of Karnataka Housing Board. He has truly internalised and understood the importance of this project for the benefit of Bangalore . I would say these are people who have power and whose strong will to support would yield results ... solid results.. We need to work with more people like him .
Finally, after 6 months of walking up to KHB, writing letters on behalf of Tungabhadra association, we got the approval to use the land for zero waste management purpose.. ONLY.
AND, on 1st Feb 2011, AID started the initial work to build the infrastructure on the approved land . Land site before implementation of zero waste and after implementation it was converted into a space for managing waste and not dumping and misplacing waste !
(Read ahead the new " Zero Waste Journey " Series )
Courtesy : KHB staff who appoved the land, KHB Chief Engineer Mr Bisse Gowda who supported the cause,
The TRWA management committee of 2010 who supported the cause : Rajeev Jayarajan , Secretary , Capt Gabriel , President , Mr. Felix, Vice President - .
My love for nature dates back to my childhood. Brought up in a pristine environment , I had a very strong connection with nature which I forgot in my journey for making money and climbing the corporate ladder. In year 2006 , I happened to attend Prof R Rajagopalan's one week workshop at Auroville on environmental sustainability. Later I happened to be part of Sanctuary Asia's "Kid's for Tigers" initiative as a volunteer to instill environment awareness in children. It helped me connect with children across various schools in Bangalore. Beyond this, got a rare opportunity to trail through the forests with Dr. Anish Andheria , a fine wildlife biologist and Director of Sanctuary Asia. The workshops, the wildlife trails awakened the nature lover in me and I felt a strong urge to work towards a cause that was for the planet .
In year 2007, I adopted the Khambha (www.dailydump.org) for composting my food waste. Dr Meenakshi Bharath, a gynecologist turned environmentalist had anchored a one day workshop later in year 2008 to introduce C Srinivasan to Bangaloreans. C Srinivasan is better known as Vellore Srinivasan. Srinivasan's workshop convinced me that the way to do waste management in large scale was inevitable and important for this society. Since then I was on a personal mission to implement zero waste management within a community , it didn't matter if the community was small or big, the important aspect was to implement the model ....
While I spoke to many people about this model, there was always a mixed response, some felt Srinivasan is a mere talker, some felt it is not viable to use cows , some felt economic sustainability is not possible and few were of the opinion that it could work. To me, everything was new. All I knew was I was not an expert on waste management - from the many people I had met, it was Srinivasan who seemed to have good knowledge on waste management and its entire cycle, be it wet waste composting or dry waste segregation and sale and he had practical experience from implementing projects.
In year 2010, Association for India's Development was looking for prospective communities who could implement the Vellore model in an urban community. That was when my desire to implement waste management in a community met with AID's desire to sponsor a project - with the strong support of Vellore Srinivasan.
The Starting Trouble
It is not enough if we have desire , it is important to have will and the patience and persistence. I realised this truth during my 6 month long persuasion with Karnataka Housing Board to approve land that was used as a semi-dump yard behind our block. Everyday, before leaving for office, I would go and wait in front of the assistant executive engineer. He was a good man and we need to understand his position before they approve a land . After about 3 months of persuasion, it came from him," I wanted to know how serious you were ..". Well, for someone who makes it like a ritual going to KHB office everyday, the desire and will could be strong.. but that is when I realised I need to have more patience.. Govt has very courteous people, they make you submit various documents and letters on behalf of the association , they will keep it safe in their files .. but it may take them few months to take action.
There was one basic question from KHB , "how will you do waste management" ? None of them were aware at that point in time.. All we had to do was to make them watch the movie "Garbage to Gold " (/www.zerowastemanagement.org) which gave a strong message through Vellore Srinivasan's implementation of waste management . Since this was the first urban model being implemented, it was difficult to show a working model within Bangalore and inspire people to take action.
People in Government Offices : We come with a baggage that "all government people are bad". Well, like all of us they too have families, they deal with problems of this city more than we do. However they are also caught in tug of wars by politicians or low level officers who want to make some quick buck. The entire credit of approving the land goes to the Chief Engineer of Karnataka Housing Board. He has truly internalised and understood the importance of this project for the benefit of Bangalore . I would say these are people who have power and whose strong will to support would yield results ... solid results.. We need to work with more people like him .
Finally, after 6 months of walking up to KHB, writing letters on behalf of Tungabhadra association, we got the approval to use the land for zero waste management purpose.. ONLY.
AND, on 1st Feb 2011, AID started the initial work to build the infrastructure on the approved land . Land site before implementation of zero waste and after implementation it was converted into a space for managing waste and not dumping and misplacing waste !
(Read ahead the new " Zero Waste Journey " Series )
Courtesy : KHB staff who appoved the land, KHB Chief Engineer Mr Bisse Gowda who supported the cause,
The TRWA management committee of 2010 who supported the cause : Rajeev Jayarajan , Secretary , Capt Gabriel , President , Mr. Felix, Vice President - .
Wow.. Meera.. So inspiring .. And i am so very proud of you .Keep up the good work !!
ReplyDeletethis is really good what you have started.. I am planning to do the same for my own society and the way you have explained every aspect is really helpful. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteSeema, how far are you, in your efforts?
ReplyDelete