The environmental issues that we see around us
are numerous. Especially in a metropolitan city like Bangalore where the total population is a whopping 9.5 million, water management, waste segregation and emission
control is critical.
All of you
must be aware of the solid waste disposal crisis that happened in Bangalore
some time ago. You must have all witnessed heaps of garbage with unbearable
stench at every corner of the street. Though the crisis is now being taken care
of, by bringing out new laws like compulsory waste segregation, a large number
of people are being ignorant and unresponsive towards the initiative.
And to my utter dismay here’s what I came across the other day. The BBMP pourakarmika who collects waste from my house every day, just put in all the segregated dry and wet waste into the same container. When I questioned her about her actions she told me that since most of the households don’t segregate waste anyway, she might as well put it all together. In my street alone, of the 25 to 30 households that contribute to the garbage, barely one or two households actually take up the initiative to segregate the waste. Recently I came across an organization whose vision is to change precisely this.
And to my utter dismay here’s what I came across the other day. The BBMP pourakarmika who collects waste from my house every day, just put in all the segregated dry and wet waste into the same container. When I questioned her about her actions she told me that since most of the households don’t segregate waste anyway, she might as well put it all together. In my street alone, of the 25 to 30 households that contribute to the garbage, barely one or two households actually take up the initiative to segregate the waste. Recently I came across an organization whose vision is to change precisely this.
Let’s be the Change, an initiative
to make people aware of the environmental hazards and to educate them, to be
more responsible citizens. What sets this initiative apart is that it was
started by Anirudh Dutt, an 18 year
old with a passion to bring a change the mindset of people and create a cleaner
and greener Bangalore. A student of Jyoti Institute of Technology, he started
this group on July 5th of this year. The initiative may just be a
few months old but it has made a large impact on the people. With the help of a
senior member of the BBMP Solid Waste Management committee Mr. N S Ramakanth numerous events have been held by the group. “Mr. Ramakanth has been a great support to
us. He is the reason behind the success of all our events” says Anirudh.
One of
their most successful events includes the cleaning of stretches of K.R Market
with the help of BBMP pourakarmikas, and spreading the awareness about waste
management. The second time they held the cleaning, at the flower market in K.R
Market, it was in the presence of the Mayor of Bangalore.
Cleaning of K R Market by the members of Lets be the Change.
They have also been knocking on the doors of households, in
many areas of Bangalore, along with BBMP pourakarmikas educating people about
segregation of dry and wet waste. “There
are about 45 NGOs that are presently working towards waste segregation. The aim
is to create specific points at each locality where the segregated wet and dry
wastes are separately collected. From there, dry waste is taken for recycling
and wet waste is allowed to decompose underground” says Anirudh. “What is happening now is that the waste is
collectively taken to the dumping ground and then segregated. This is causing a
menace and a lot of health hazards to the localities situated nearby” he
says.
Spreading the message, door to door about waste segregation in
the presence of Mr. Ramakanth and BBMP workers.
The members of Lets be the Change
On asking
Anirudh what he has to say to the readers, “We
need to be the change we wish to see in the world. Badalagi badalayisona. And anyone
with a vision to make a change is welcome to be a part of us” he says. They
will be conducting many such events in the near future. Do check out their
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/letsallchange
They have
also made several videos to spread awareness among the people. Do check out the
links.
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