Collaboration and co-operation between waste warriors and citizens can help maintain cleanliness in the city

An intriguing interaction between the leadership of ‘SWaCH’ and waste warriors of Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative (APCCI) unravelled many aspects and ideas to help maintain our Pune city clean. Ms. Laxmi Narayan, co-founder of ‘SWaCH’ was at the APCCI office to interact with the audience as a part of ‘Clean City Talks’. The third session was a part of the ongoing series which explores various aspects of sustainability and what it means for a common man to keep our city clean and sustainable.

Along with Ms.Vidya Naiknaware, member of SWaCH, Ms. Laxmi Narayan interacted with the waste warriors of APCCI  and took them through the fascinating journey of SWaCH, right from its inception in 1989 to being registered in 1993 when it was called Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (trade union for hardworking waste pickers) and to the present day decentralized, accountable organisation. She talked about the challenges, roadblocks faced and how they managed to overcome it and make ‘SwaCH’ an integral part of our day to day life.

 

She said that in the beginning hardly any waste picker realised that they were doing some valuable work for the society. If we would ask them what they do, they would say ‘nothing ‘and when we would ask them how they would make a living they answered ‘by collecting waste and removing garbage’. Little did they realise that this was the work that helped them run their houses, feed their stomach and send their children to school’. Therefore, we registered it as a trade union so that it gets the status of ‘work’.

Ms. Laxmi Narayan and Ms.Vidya Naiknaware took the audience through the entire journey, structure and processes of ‘SwaCH’ and answered all the questions related to day to day issues.

Ms. Laxmi Narayan emphasized on the importance of collaboration and cooperation between ‘SWaCH’ and citizens to keep our city clean. She expressed satisfaction that the segregation levels have gone up and citizens are becoming more aware and participative.

Mr.Krishnan Komandur, CEO APCCI, Mr.Malhar Karwande, COO, APCCI and Sathya Natarajan, Lead Volunteer, APCCI along with staff members and waste warriors were present on the occasion.