We are thrilled to inform you that we have partnered with RESET.org. RESET is an international information portal and platform for environmental protection and humanitarian action. For the upcoming World Environment Day, RESET.org, Green Commandos, and The Alternative are inviting people to take action to actively address one environmental problem that concerns us in our day-to-day lives – and we’re inviting you to submit a photo of yourself doing the same and join our online campaign!
They are putting together a gallery of images which will be hosted on the RESET.org website and displayed on the Facebook event page based on a theme of ‘My problem, My promise’. On two placards we would like you to write down one environmentally relevant problem you face titled ‘My Problem’, and a solution you can see through to address that problem; ‘My Promise’. We want you to take a picture of yourself holding these and post it to Facebook!
Great green ideas are emerging from India that can be replicated across the country. Sustainable development is no more a buzz word among policy makers and activists; it is the underlying theme of every new Jugaad Innovation in the rural parts of the country. Here are some additions to the growing list of simple yet innovative ideas that are not only eco-friendly, but also are economical. This is in continuation of our Eco-friendly Ideas compilation published earlier.
Problem – In dairy farming, milking is the most crucial task. Manually milking a cow or buffalo, which yields 15-20 litres of milk, is a tiresome job. Farmers who milk continuously throughout a day may suffer stiff shoulder and weakness in fingers. In addition, finding skilled labour for milking a small herd of cows is a problem faced by many farmers. However, motorised milking machines costing around Rs.80,000 are unaffordable.
Solution – A Karnataka-based small farmer Raghava Gowda decided to tackle this issue by designing a milking machine on his own. He innovated a handy, low cost manual milking machine that can milk 1.5-2 litres of milk every minute. The machine can remove all the milk from the cow’s udder, yet the cow would not experience any pain. The suction assembly has two sub-assemblies with a set of nipples and a stainless steel plate on one side, and transparent conduit pipes and a regulator valve on the other. The machine can be easily operated with a hand pump or foot pedal, as well as with a battery, in which case, no human intervention is required.
Problem – The feasibility of solar power as a viable source of electricity is now well established. Since the launch of the National Solar Mission, the cost per kilowatt has come down drastically. However, the cost of a solar photovoltaic panel is still out of the reach of the lower middle class and the lower classes, who actually need it. Off-grid solar power is ideal for rural households that suffer from severe power cuts and load shedding. “Rs. 300 a month is expensive, but Rs. 10 a day is fine,” this typical comment of a street vendor highlights the fact that India needs not only an affordable low cost technology, but a proper financing mechanism as well.
Solution – Understanding this need, Dr. Harish Hande established SELCO India in 1995. It is a social enterprise that provides microfinancing to rural households and urban street vendors to buy solar powered lights and pay for them in instalments. SELCO India has installed solar PV light systems in 125,000 houses by 2012 and also sells solar thermal water heater, and efficient low smoke cook-stoves. The distinguishing feature of SELCO is its capability to offer complete package of products, service and financing to its customers through microfinance institutions.
Details –
More Details on wharton.upenn.edu
More Details on selco-india.com
Idea – Roads Laid With Waste Plastic
Road laid by K K Plastic | Source: Ibnlive
Problem – Waste polythene covers and plastic bags have become a huge menace today. Every year, thousands of tons of non-biodegradable plastic waste are generated, which are strewn across landfills and lakes across all major Indian cities. This leads to environmental problems such as drainage clogging, mosquito breeding, flooding during heavy rains, choking of grazing animals, etc. While good quality plastic material above 30-40 micron thickness gets recycled, the thinner sheets and bags are difficult to collect and recycle.
Solution – Bangalore-based K K Plastic Waste Management made a breakthrough by utilizing non-degradable waste plastic in road construction. This idea solves the problem by replacing high cost asphalt need for road metalling as well as effectively uses plastic waste. Waste plastic material is collected from rag-pickers and municipal waste collectors, which is then cleaned, shredded and mixed with bitumen. The first road was laid in Bangalore in 2002 and since then K K Plastic has laid out 1,400 kilometres of roads using about 5,000 tonnes of plastic.
Problem – Typically, we see various innovative green products being utilised independently. However, we never see all types of eco-friendly products such as natural dyes, organic cotton clothes, handmade soap, reusable handbags, biodegradable pesticides, solar lighting, eco-friendly building material, recycled paper, all together at one place. Unless that happens, the general public can never visualise the transforming power of environmentally sustainable lifestyle.
Solution – There is a place in India that has experimented with every type of eco-friendly product ever conceived. Since the early 1970s, entrepreneurs from across 40 countries have made Auroville their home, where they have created innovative products that are not only functional, but are also eco-friendly. Handmade recycled paper with flower petals, cotton threads and banana fibre lampshades are synonymous with Auroville. In their efforts to become a self-sustained global community, Aurovilians have created a cooperative system where money is not used for trading. Instead, they use a system named ‘Pour Tous’ account, through which almost all transactions within Auroville are processed. Another shining example of this self-sustained community is the oldest solar powered kitchen in India where nearly 1,000 people eat everyday!
As the globe warms further this summer, we begin to feel the scorching heat. Summer calls for sandals that allow the sun to gracefully shine on your pretty legs and toes. Thankfully, the footwear industry has prepared for the release of its greenest sandals and shoes collection yet!
Right from known eco-friendly footwear manufacturers like ECCO to market leaders such as PUMA, everybody has jumped into the eco-shoes bandwagon. Come summer, India will witness a series of sustainable shoes hitting the stores. Here is an idea of what’s coming!
Eco Shoes – Sustainable Solace
Just because these eco-friendly footwear are environmentally sustainable, that doesn’t mean that you would relate them to substandard quality or outdated style. In fact, they come with the best blend of style, substance and comfort. Style-oriented women claim that some of these flats are worth dying for, while others say that the comfort of an eco-shoe is unmatched. One is bound to feel closer to nature when they flaunt these beautiful pieces of footwear during summer. Short skirts and half jeans are amplified by the natural charm in this footwear.
Well, what’s better is that these eco-friendly sustainable shoes and sandals work wonderfully well with your skin as well. There will be no more instances of shoe-biting and sandal hurting, since these are the most natural of shoes man has ever made.
Stylish Eco-friendly Sandals by Mohop | Source: Saturday Persimmon
Eco Sandals – Comfort and Care
Gorgeous sandals have cropped from a plethora of amazing nature-friendly creations and here is a look at the best of sustainable shoes hitting the stores both in India and abroad:
Mohop offers a unique eco sandal which comes in as a single wood-like base on which various eco-friendly ties and laces can be bind to generate a new pattern every day! Flat rope sandals from Cri de Coeur and Strap sandals from the sandal company – Swedish Hasbeens are among the best international models. Geramig international and Roshmilla leather from India have specialty eco-sandals for both men and women.
Brooks green silence, Nike Pegasus and Newton are among the best running shoes that you can buy to jog your summer around. The best part is that all of these top class shoes are eco-friendly and sustainable. Biodegradable shoes are the new fad and the biggest players including Woodlands are entering the market.
Bata Eco Fit | Source: id.all.biz
India Catching Up
Big names from India aren’t left behind. Bata, the leading Indian footwear brand has made a commitment to manufacturing eco-friendly products. Among wholesale Indian manufacturers, names such as Shree, KP Tech, and Sajid International offer a range of biodegradable shoes.
The Indian brands find inspiration from American bigwigs going green. Some big brands such as Rei, Gaiam, Patagonia, Nau, Lush, Timberland, The Green Depot have been recognized as the world’s leading eco-friendly companies. The Indian top brands and many local brands have now begun living up to these standards set by the American counterparts.
We started by talking about how the world will be warmer this summer. If there is anything that’s going to be hotter, it is you in your chic pair of sandals and shoes. Be it a summer breakfast or a beach run, be it a party or a jog, we expect you to be there in the best of your eco-wear flaunting away these gorgeous new nature-friendly creations!
This 2013 Ecoideaz contest is closed! The event for 2014 is happening right now on www.ecoideaz.com
Have you wondered if there are good ideas that can enable us to lead a better life without harming the environment… Have you seen any such innovative ideas…
Despite all the talk about environmentally-friendly living, it seems like all the good green ideas are originating from the West! We Indians always yearn for better ideas to emerge from our innovators that are affordable and adaptable our local needs. Thankfully, there is a growing list of simple yet innovative ideas that are not only eco-friendly, but also are economical.
We at Caleidoscope are organizing the Eco-ideaz Contest where we seek your nominations for the best innovative idea seen in India. The primary criteria will be the eco-friendliness of the idea and its commercial feasibility. We request our readers to identify the most eco-friendly product or service created in India either by writing a case-study on it or by just nominating it with a brief description. Remember, the idea need not be implemented by you!
Eco-ideaz Case-study Contest
Write a short article on the most innovative eco-friendly product or service created in India.
First prize for the winning case-study – Rs.5,000 cash prize
Second prize for case-study – Rs.2,000 cash prize
The contest guidelines are as follows –
Write an original case-study in a range of 500-700 words. Copied content will be rejected, but you can quote relevant sources in your footnotes.
The chosen green product or service should be innovated in India or by a person of Indian origin.
The case-study must elaborate on the existing problem and how the idea has solved the problem.
Participants can submit as many case-studies as possible about different innovative ideas.
It would be great if you have pictures of the idea. You can also send images taken by others (Flickr, Panoramio, Picasa), but obtain their written permission.
Judges have the right to reject articles or images which do not fit in with the editorial policy of Caleidoscope.
Each of these case-studies will be published on Caleidoscope and will be voted by our readers. Participants can promote their ideas among friends and get more votes.
Judges will select the best case-study both by popular votes from readers and votes from a panel of eminent ecologists.
All the articles and images sent to Caleidoscope become our property, which will be published with proper credentials of the copyright holder.
Please send your entries to editor@caleidoscope.in
The last date for submission is 1st June 2013 and prizes will be declared on the World Environment Day!
Eco-ideaz Nomination Contest
Participants have to just identify the most popular and unique eco-friendly idea created in India
First prize for identifying the most popular idea – prize worth Rs.1,500
First prize for identifying the most unique idea – prize worth Rs.1,500
Consolation prize worth Rs.500
The contest guidelines are as follows –
The chosen green product or service should be innovated in India or by a person of Indian origin.
Participants have to just write a one-line description about why they choose the eco-friendly idea.
If their idea is not in the list, they can add a new idea along with its photograph searched online.
A participant can only choose two ideas. They can also promote their idea among their friends and get more votes.
Judges will select the best idea both by popular votes from readers and votes from a panel of eminent ecologists.
Just write a comment on this page to submit your idea.
Submit your nomination before 26th May 2013.
So let’s begin the voting process. Check out our suggested nominations and vote for them through comments. If you find these ideas not worthy, you add better ideas of your own!
When we talk about environmentalism, what comes to our mind – tree hugging activism that opposes all development or funky new innovative ideas that change the way we live? Thanks to ‘sustainable development’, we no more need to sacrifice the environment to ensure our development. It means there is a way to develop our economy through good ideas that can enable us to lead a better life without harming the environment. Fortunately, these eco-friendly ideas are not such a burden on your budget!
Despite all the talk about environmentally-friendly living, it seems like all the good ideas are originating from the West! We Indians always yearn for better ideas to emerge from our innovators that are affordable and adaptable our local needs. Thankfully, there is a growing list of simple yet innovative ideas that are not only eco-friendly, but also are economical. The great Indian Jugaad of eco-friendly ideas are capable of changing the world and are already doing it!
Eco-friendly Idea – Recycled Tetrapak roof sheets
Recycled plastic furniture by Daman-Ganga
Problem – Piles of plastic waste generated in urban areas has become a humongous problem for both residents and civic authorities. Recycling of plastic material is beginning to happen in a large scale, but it is proceeding at a painfully slow pace. Particularly the recycling of Tetrapak food packets has been a bigger headache since they are made up of composite materials. Tetrapak is a patented food packaging material which consists of layers of polyethylene, aluminium and paper.
Solution – Gujarat-based Daman Ganga Paper Mills has innovated on a new technique to recycle Tetrapak into reusable building material such as roof sheets, furniture, etc. Shredded Tetrapak and plastic material are dried and cleaned. The shreds are then spread between two polythene sheets and laid on a hot press bed. Once the sheets emerge from the press, they are give a wave-form shape and left to dry. Daman Ganga’s Tuff Roof sheets actually better than the conventional fibrocement and corrugated G.l. sheets they replace. They are waterproof, rustproof, and absorb much less heat.
Eco-friendly Idea – Banana fibre paper
Banana fibre lamp by Jenny Pinto
Problem – India is the world’s largest cultivator of bananas producing 29.7 million tons in 2011. After the harvest of banana fruit, huge quantity of about 60-80 tons per hectare of waste biomass (pseudostem, leaves, suckers etc.) is generated. Presently, almost all of this biomass is discarded as waste.
Solution – The use of banana fibre for textile and other purposes is a new concept in India. Earlier the coarse fibre extracted from banana stems was used as ropes. However, after the banana fibre separator machine was innovated by the Tiruchirappalli Regional Engineering College’s Science & Technology Entrepreneurs Park, this humble fibre got a boost. This machine helps in extracting large quantities of banana fibre for commercial purposes. Innovators in South India have utilised this multi-purpose fibre for interesting uses. Utilising banana fibre as cloth, handicrafts, bags and fashion accessories has become the latest trend. The most dazzling use has been the banana fibre paper innovated by Jenny Pinto, an artist based in Bangalore. Check out her table lamps and stationery material. Now there are suggestions to produce high value paper for making currency notes as well! Details– http://jennypinto.com http://www.ecogreenunit.org
Eco-friendly Idea – Bio-toilets for railways
Bio-toilets developed by DRDO
Problem – Indian Railways is one of the world’s largest railway network that carries 25 million passengers every day. However, maintaining cleanliness at railway stations and in trains is a major problem. Particularly, when train toilets unload human excreta and urine directly onto the tracks, the stench emanating from the filth is unbearable at times. Apart from the environmental problem posed by these toilets, corrosion of the railway tracks is another major issue. Cleaning the filth strewn at railway stations has been a messy job, which was highlighted on TV programs such as Satyamev Jayate as well.
Solution – The Indian Railways has at last joined hands with the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) to develop ‘Bio-toilets’. Bio-toilet is a self-contained device that breaks down human waste with the help of anaerobic bacteria placed inside a tank filled with 125 litres of water, converting it into harmless and odourless gas and water. Estimated to cost about Rs.1 lakh each, these new age bio-toilets are manufactured at Kapurthala Coach Factory. Although, at present only 9 long-distance trains with 436 coaches are fitted with bio-toilets, the Railway Ministry has targeted installing 2,500 bio-toilets on trains during the 2012-13 Rail Budget. Detailshttp://www.thehindubusinessline.com
Eco-friendly Idea – Biomass-based Husk Power Systems
Husk Power Systems in Bihar
Problem – Lack of access to electricity is the biggest issue faced by rural households in India. The problem is chronic in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa, where 80-90% of households are without electricity. Villagers rely on kerosene lanterns for household light and diesel generators for irrigation and commercial power. Both are expensive and destructive to health and the environment. Decentralised power that is easily accessible is the need of the hour to empower rural India.
Solution – Fortunately, biomass and biofuel-based power sources are abundantly available in rural areas. Utilising this resource, a company called ‘Husk Power Systems’ has provided reliable and affordable option for rural electrification. Husk Power utilises rice husk – a waste product in rice milling – to power a 40 kilowatt power plant, which provides electricity for 500 village households for around six to eight hours every day. At present, the company has installed more than 85 plants across different villages in Bihar. At Rs. 2.2 per watt, the company’s rates is cheaper than the subsidised power provided by the government electricity boards!
Eco-friendly Idea – Mitticool earthen refrigerator
Mansukhlal’s Mitticool refrigerator
Problem – A refrigerator is an essential appliance for households to preserve food and water during the heat of the summer. However, most Indian households are unable to afford a simple fridge that costs at least Rs.10,000. Even if you own a fridge, the frequent power cuts in rural areas render it useless. Petty shops and retail outlets that store soft drinks and ice-cream face a major issue.
Solution – Mitticool is a classic example of Indian jugaad innovation created by utilising local resources that provide the best solution. Innovated by Prajapati Mansukhlal Raghavji, the Mitticool refrigerator is a really cool replacement to the modern so called energy efficient fridges. At the top level of the Mitti Cool fridge, there is a storage chamber of 10 litres capacity, where water is poured in, which percolates down between the double-layered terracotta walls. During this process the water evaporates by convection and keeps the storage chambers cool. The bottom compartments hold 5-7 kg of vegetables, fruits and milk at 8-10°C below room temperature. In 2006, Prof Anil K Gupta from the National Innovation Foundation funded Mansukhlal with Rs 2 lakh to set a company, which has today sold over 7,500 refrigerators and has an annual turnover of around Rs.30 lakh!
Details: http://indiatoday.intoday.in
Sensible models of waste management and resource creation through recycling are emerging across a few cities of India. This is a collection of four case studies of waste management in Indian metro cities – Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Surat.
Pune pioneers the cooperative model
Swach Coop workers with uniform and id cards sort garbage
Pune has emerged as one of the fastest growing metro cities in India powered by the talented workforce emerging from its educational institutions and its proximity to Mumbai. However, this fledgling cantonment city has grown haphazardly due to expansion of business activities and the steady influx of migrants. Matching with the city’s march to rapid growth is the growing pile of rotting waste strewn across landfills on the outskirts of the city. However, in 2007, a ground breaking initiative was launched in Pune, which has now become the perfect model to emulate across other Indian cities.
In 2007, Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP) collaborated with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to create the SWaCH Cooperative initiative (Solid Waste Collection and Handling). KKPKP is a trade union of sanitary workers and rag-pickers that was established in 1993 to safeguard municipal worker rights. The SWaCH initiative became India’s first wholly-owned cooperative of self-employed waste pickers, which is today an autonomous enterprise that provides front-end waste management services to the citizens of Pune.
Unlike other cities where municipal corporations collect the garbage from residences and commercial establishments and charge them a fee, Pune took the lead in empowering the waste collectors to charge the fees as well as sell the recycled waste to generate income. SWaCH Cooperative trains rag pickers on waste collection, segregation and professional behaviour as well. Organic waste is composted to create manure, while solid dry waste such as paper, plastic, metal scrap are recycled and sold. Residents are asked to place soiled diapers and sanitary napkins in a separate disposal bag.
Each pair of SWaCH Cooperative workers, equipped with identity cards, cover 250-300 households in a locality and hand over the collected and segregated waste to trucks. Every day, they collect around 600 tons of solid waste and about 10 tons are composted. Apart from these initiatives, the SWaCH organises the ‘V-Collect’ voluntary drive to collect newspapers, old clothes, e-waste and other unwanted household material that cannot be thrown in daily garbage. SWaCH Cooperative hopes that these activities change the perception about sanitary workers among people.
Plague city to clean city – Wah! Kya Surat hai
Clean streets of Surat
Large Indian cities are chaotic, dynamic and are full of vibrant life. They are culturally rich with heritage, but despite their proud legacy, our cities cannot claim to have one thing – cleanliness. Cities across the country are dirty, polluted and filled with noxious substances. However, there is one city in the country that has consistently claimed the title of being the cleanest city in India – Surat. The last time we heard about Surat was that it was the only city in modern times to have suffered the dreaded outbreak of plague. So how did this magical transformation happen?
After Surat suffered the plague outbreak in 1994, both the authorities and the citizens woke up to the harsh reality of garbage strewn across the city. A massive drive to clean the city was initiated, which was led by the then municipal commissioner, S R Rao. Under Rao’s able leadership, the Surat Municipal Corporation took up a few key activities that restored faith –
The city was divided into six zones to decentralize the civic responsibilities
Door-to-door collection of garbage was introduced
The Gujarat Government’s Municipal Act was amended to include a provision to penalize littering with a fine of Rs 50
Night time sweeping of streets and cleaning of gutters was introduced
Private contractors were involved in the transport, collection, and disposal of solid waste
Unauthorised structures and petty shops built on pavements were demolished
All persons whose pending municipal taxes exceeded Rs 1 lakh were targeted
Further, the Surat Municipal Corporation implemented concepts like zero-garbage roads, waste-to-energy plants and micro-level management of cleaning activities as well. Obviously, these initiatives yielded dramatic results within two years. Soon, Surat became the model city to emulate after it was rated among the top three cities for three consecutive years (2008-2010) in the National City Rating under the National Urban Sanitation Policy. During the last decade, municipal officials from across the country have visited Surat to understand the city’s transformation.
The first time I heard that the preservation of our environment was the “need of the hour” was in my fifth class. More than 10 years later and innumerable conferences later, the deteriorating condition of the environment still seems to be the “need of the hour!” If anything, the situation seems to have worsened, what with the global warming and all.
Newspaper-bag
I feel the main problem is that we just talk about it and make pretentious speeches. We declare that we SHOULD do something for the environment instead of ACTUALLY doing it. When I was 12, I took up an assignment that kept me busy all summer, while simultaneously helping me to do what I can for Mother Nature. I collected all the old newspapers I could lay my hands on (they were going to go the Raddiwaala anyway), took a pair of scissors and gum from my mother’s cabinet, and made paper bags.
Dozens and dozens of paper bags made from premier quality English newspapers. I didn’t stop just yet. I went down and handed these bags to every shopkeeper I frequented and requested them to use them as often as they could. Who could possibly say “No” to an enthusiastic little girl! I was ecstatic at the success of my eco-friendly plan. Eventually, I ran out of newspapers and my summer vacations ended as well, so did my big plans to single-handedly save the environment!
Today, rising awareness has opened the eyes of many young Indians to alternative lifestyles that could be easily adopted. I see people using trash cans for a change and even reuse things; I see people reprimanding strangers who assume the world is one gigantic dustbin. The flea markets sell a lot of cloth and jute bags. Current fashion revolves around the environmentally conscientious individual. Cloth-based bags such as jute, cotton are great alternatives as they are both biodegradable and reusable. Although paper bags seem to be a good choice, it causes more harm than good because it is sourced from wood, leading to destruction of forests.
Wicker baskets have also become trendy these days as gifts are being packaged in these bags, making them aesthetically as well as environmentally pleasing! Further, reusable nylon bags such as the ones made by SmallSteps, which can be folded down to the size of your cell phone, are another good option as they are quite handy. A reusable shopping bag, or so called ‘bag for life’ is made of canvas, woven synthetic fibres, or a thick polymer that is more durable than disposable plastic bags. Leather bags are also an option, but will not last long if used for shopping veggies and groceries.
SmallSteps foldable bag
Here is a list of alternatives you can try instead of plastic or polymer bags –
Cotton bags – simple and elegant but low lift strength
Jute bags coated with plastic – trendy and waterproof
Newspaper bags – neither reusable nor waterproof
Nylon bags – foldable, reusable and extremely handy – SmallSteps
Banana fibre bags – trendy, eco-friendly and durable
In 2002, the Irish government imposed a plastic bag consumption tax (called PlasTax), which has reduced consumption by 90%. The tax of $0.15 per bag is paid by consumers when they check out at the store. Big retail chain stores in India like Bigbazaar, Lifestyle, Spencer’s and others have begun charging a nominal amount for plastic bags, thereby encouraging customers to carry their own bags!
While the awareness about plastic waste was rising, but I feel the tide really turned when people realised that drainage pipes clogged with plastic and other waste material caused the massive flooding in Mumbai in 2005. Soon village panchayats and cities across the country began to ban plastic bags. Some eco-sensitive hillstations such as Ooty, Mahabaleshwar have gone in for a complete ban of all plastic and polymer bags, while bigger cities have chosen to ban only plastic bags with less than 50 micron thickness. (Bags thinner than this level, are not feasible to collect and recycle)
The Dapoli Nagar panchayat (a small town in Maharashtra) not only banned plastic bags, but also provided a solution in the form of bags made out of old sarees (Jusapi). The panchayat persuaded vegetable and fruit vendors to discard plastic bag usage for at least 1-2 hours daily for a week by which time they were convinced that a plastic-free existence was, indeed, possible.
The issue of waste management in India is a much debated topic which needs no introduction. Everyday, large space is dedicated in the media to highlight the problems of urban waste. Politicians often use it as a talking point, while commoners make it a point to crib about it. Meanwhile, as tons of solid waste continues to pile up in the outskirts of cities, nothing seems to happen on finding a permanent solution to this everyday problem. It is hard to believe that a developing country like India which suffers from severe resource crunch in almost all natural resources, can afford to create such enormous piles of waste.
Thankfully, some models of sensible waste management and resource creation through recycling are emerging across a few cities of India. This is a collection of four case studies of waste management in Indian metro cities – Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Surat.
Awareness adventure by Saahas, Bangalore
Photo courtesy: Saahas.org
India’s IT hub Bangalore’s (Bengaluru) population doubled from 4.1 million in 1991 to 8.4 million in 2011. Various initiatives for waste management through door-to-door collection, waste segregation and recycling were attempted, including the ‘Swaccha Bengaluru’ initiatives launched under the Bangalore Agenda Task Force project in 1999. However, like all government top down-oriented initiatives, this too bit the dust in 2004.
Around this time, a small NGO named Saahas began to make independent efforts build awareness and create infrastructure for waste recycling. When people had no consciousness about waste pile up, educating them about reducing waste and recycling it was truly a daunting task. Since I was a volunteer for Saahas during 2008-09, I very well remember the disdain citizens had for waste segregation and plastic carry-bag elimination activities.
Under the leadership of Wilma Rodrigues, Saahas has been able to convince a few large corporate enterprises to begin electronic waste (e-waste) collection and recycling activities. Soon e-waste kiosks came up across the prominent shopping locations in the city where people could drop batteries, CDs, chargers and other worn out electronic gadgets. This was India’s first e-waste initiative created along with other partners such as WeP Peripherals and E-Parisaraa.
Apart from e-waste, Saahas took up the challenging task of organic waste composting and dry waste recycling in corporate offices. Large companies generate enormous volumes of organic waste such as discarded food, tea and coffee grounds. When this waste is mixed with dry waste material such paper, cardboard boxes, tea cups and plastic, these useful items could not be recovered.
Saahas convinced a few large companies such as State Bank of India, Texas Instruments India, and Microsoft India to create a proper system for waste collection and segregation which not only eliminated the task of waste disposal, but also generated revenue from recycling. Similarly another interesting activity by Saahas is to collect waste tetra packs from various schools in Bangalore and send them to Damanganga Paper Mills who convert them into furniture!
Truly a WoW initiative in Hyderabad
Photo courtesy: CIPS-ASCI Case Studies-WOW, 2010
Hyderabad is another large south Indian city which grew big during the IT boom that followed the liberalisation of the Indian economy. Just like Bangalore, the city was fortunate to get a state government that was eager to develop the city’s urban infrastructure. In 2007, 12 different municipalities were merged to form the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Despite this merger and government intention, waste management in Hyderabad remained a messy activity.
Fortunately, private companies and concerned individuals stepped in to manage the humongous waste generated in Hyderabad city. ITC, the leading FMCG company, joined hands with a few NGOs and resident welfare associations (RWAs) to create the Wealth out of Waste (WoW) Initiative in April 2007.
RWAs appoint volunteers for each locality or housing complex to encourage households to segregate their dry waste. Volunteers distribute storing bags specially prepared for dry waste and collect them back. White colour bags for waste paper, while blue colour bag is meant for plastic and metal items. ITC pays Rs. 2-5 per kg for plastic and metal items, and pays Rs. 4-5 per kg for paper material. The collection is done every week or once in 10 days based on the collection of each locality. The collected material is then transported to the junkyard where it is segregated and sent for recycling. Paper waste is baled and sent to ITC’s reprocessing plants in Bhadrachalam. Apart from this, wet waste is collected daily by the GHMC.
The monetary benefit acts as an incentive for residents to participate actively in the WoW initiative. Today, the WoW initiative covers about 27,000 households in 250 locations in Hyderabad. Apart from Hyderabad, resident welfare associations in 15 municipalities located in Andhra Pradesh have joined in. ITC has a business motive to launch this initiative since its Paperboards & Specialty Papers Division in Bhadrachalam needed steady supply of recyclable paper and polymer material.
It was about 2.30 in the noon when my desk phone rang. The call came from my friend who was the HR executive at office. The next day was Ayudha Pooja, the pen-ultimate day of Dasara festival which is celebrated with religious fervour at most work places across India. She had called me to know if I could draw a traditional Rangoli pattern at the entrance of our office. When I said “no” to her, the reply I got was quite annoying. “Sigh, there are about 64 women employees in this office and not even six of them seem familiar with the traditional folk art”, she said. I wondered “Why is it so?”
Rangoli, a traditional Indian folk art also known as ‘Kolam’ in the south, is a decorative pattern religiously created in front of the courtyard of all Hindu households every morning. Practiced since time immemorial, the Rangoli patterns are believed to be the ‘greeting zones’ for gods created at the entrance so as to invite their blessings into every home with a view to bring prosperity.
While Rangoli is created with simple patterns on regular days, they are elaborately drawn with intricate designs during festivals, weddings and other celebrations at home. With the floor itself acting as a canvas, women can bring their creative best to the fore, by drawing beautiful Rangoli patterns the first thing in the morning each day. I think these colourful patterns inspire the Indian housewife to take on the day-to-day challenges head on!
There are diverse types of Rangoli patterns made using rice flour or chalk powder that adorn the Indian households. Noteworthy among them are –
Pulli Kolam or Chukki Rangoli – the regular monochrome design drawn through lines and dots
Ezhai Kolam or Elay Rangoli – complicated line drawings using geometrical designs with spaces filled with colour
Pookkalam – elaborate designs are drawn using flowers during the festival of Onam
With evolving times and changing lifestyles, this age-old tradition has begun to slowly fade away. While it is quite a rare sight to see such decorative designs adorning the entranceway of Indian home these days, those living in urban apartments hardly bother to draw a Rangoli in their house doorway. Justifying the lack of knowledge, Sumana, a housewife residing in an apartment at Bangalore says, “Firstly, I do not know how to create a traditional Rangoli. From the time I started residing in an apartment, I could heave a sigh of relief about me not knowing the art form as no one gets to see even if I have drawn a rangoli before my door.”
While some people like Sumana do not know how to draw the patterns, others have not learnt the art, simply because of lack of interest. Nagashree, a homemaker in Mysore says, “Though my mother always stressed upon me learning to draw traditional Rangolis, from the time I was a school going kid, I showed no interest. But now, being a mother of two young girls, I feel sad that I am unable to pass on the folk art to my little girls as a tradition, since I myself do not know how to draw one.”
Gone are those days when we saw our mothers and grandmothers leisurely decorate their courtyards and doorways with these traditional line drawings and intricate, decorative patterns using rice flour soaked in water. Today, the only thing we mostly get to see is the modern day avatar of ready-made Rangoli patterns created on translucent plastic sheets, which can simply be bought and pasted.
It is not a joke to face a Brett Lee’s ball that would approach you at a speed of 140-150 km per hour. You have to decide, position yourself and take action all within nanoseconds. You cannot think about anything else; just concentrate and pray. It becomes harder when you know a long queue of ‘wannabes’ stand behind you, who are ready to pounce at your position.
In a country of more than a billion, selectors have an immense choice of players and your career may vanish within, well, nanoseconds! But wait, you may strike gold as well. After all, we have the Sachins, the Dravids and the Gangulys. In India, these idols are more than just cricket celebrities. They are demigods!
Let the cricketing season come again and you would know why billions are glued to their televisions, and even big-screen shows. It does not matter where you are, it would be blasphemous if you’re not tuned in. You are not a “good citizen of India” if you do not cheer when India beats other nations, particularly Pakistan!
Cricket makes us crazy, cricket snatches our sleep away and it makes us skip meals too. However, one thing that makes it all loveable is the fact that it unites us. In this retrospection, renowned historian Ramachandra Guha argues that “The institutions that kept us together are those bequests of the British: the civil service, the army, the railways, and cricket.”
Emily Crick writes in her paper “Cricket and Indian National Consciousness” that during the 2007 World Cup, “Cricket had finally achieved for the nation, that level of unity that she had dreamt of for so long.” She reveals some deviating perspectives too, including the fact that many Indian Muslims may support Pakistan when it is playing with other nations. However, Indians are smart enough not to engage in conflicts when the subject is as fine as cricket.
Gully Cricket – Sanjay Austa
Many people also believe that the hype about cricket is a detrimental factor for the nation’s sport itself. In her recent article on the Hindu, Maneesha Roy reiterates “This gentlemen’s game takes us back to the past, binding us to the same old opponents year after year. It has made us a regional prisoner, stopping us from looking beyond our own subcontinent. It is becoming increasingly profit-driven, something that’s taking away from the true essence and integrity of the game.” She ascertains that cricket is such a behemoth that it suppresses the quest for achievement in all other sports.
Maneesha Roy, however, accepts the fact that cricket does unite the nation when she says, “Such is the power of cricket, the sport that not only provides great entertainment but also the adrenaline rush that comes with a feeling of pride and patriotism. The social harmony that is a lost legacy resurfaces as a reminder that all is perhaps not lost. As long as cricket provides the glue, there is hope for the idea of India.”
Zia-ul-Haq with Rajiv Gandhi
Apart from making people bite their fingernails in tension, cricket plays a major role in international diplomatic relationship too. In his University of Southern California’s blog, Paul Rockower writes, “Cricket has a long history as a platform for diplomacy, particularly between India and Pakistan. In 1987, amid a period of rising tension between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, and with both armies on high alert at the border, Pakistan’s President Zia ul-Huq accepted an invitation from Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to attend an India-Pakistan Test match held in India. That visit helped ease the rising tension between the two sides.
Moving away from these perspectives, I do feel that the love for cricket in India is truly a great sign of peace and progress. I see a dream of probably becoming the next Sachin in the eyes of many teens who carry a huge “cricket-kit” bag on their shoulders. The dream is justifiable in true sense. They are dreaming to cherish sportsmanship, drifting away from devilish subjects such as terrorism, war and hostility. The charm of a moving bat and ball, and the passion of a cricketer can only be understood by people who have spent the entire day on the field, running after the ball, with the ball and against the ball. Others, are just critics!
Press RESET for World Environment Day
