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Picture this: a vibrant scene unfolding in the hilly terrains of Odisha. Determined rural women, clad in their colorful sarees and sturdy gloves, are confidently navigating tricycles, brimming with both waste and an even greater sense of purpose. These are the Swachhta Sathis, and their mission is nothing short of revolutionary.
Their journey begins at the doorsteps of homes and shops, where they’ve successfully instilled a new, vital habit: sorting waste at the source. Through engaging door-to-door interactions and lively village meetings, these incredible women are not just collecting waste; they’re educating their communities about the devastating impact of single-use plastics, one conversation at a time.
From Waste to Wealth: A Sustainable Model Takes Shape
But their work doesn’t stop at collection. The sorted waste makes its way to local segregation sheds, where the Swachhta Sathis’ skilled hands meticulously separate useful recyclables from non-recyclable materials. It’s a precise process that breathes new life into what was once considered trash:
- High-value plastics, like PET bottles, are channeled to registered recyclers, destined to be transformed into new products, continuing their lifecycle.
- Low-value plastics, such as multi-layered plastics (MLP), find purpose in road construction and as alternative fuels in cement kilns, ensuring nothing truly goes to waste.
This groundbreaking initiative, led by the visionary Manoj Mahajan IAS (2019 batch IAS officer and collector & district magistrate of Sundargarh), has processed over 275 metric tonnes of plastic waste. More impressively, it has created meaningful livelihoods for around 470 rural women, generating revenue that funds the initiative’s operations and maintenance, all while championing a circular economy and significantly reducing landfill waste.
The Spark: Why an IAS Officer Decided to Act
The story of “Aama Sundargarh Swachh Sundargarh” began with an observation. Manoj Mahajan recalls that as the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) Phase 2 rolled out in 2021-22, new state guidelines encouraged greater collaboration between villages and nearby towns. The Urban Rural Convergence (URC) model aimed to transport rural waste to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
“However, in Sundargarh, the four ULBs were insufficient to manage waste from the vast rural areas,” Mahajan explains. During his field visits, a stark reality emerged: “Most of the time I noticed open dumping of waste along roadsides, waste floating in water bodies, and people resorting to burning waste to clear it.” Community interactions revealed a critical gap – no proper waste management system and a lack of knowledge on what to do with waste.
This urgent need sparked the idea for a structured rural solid waste management system. With UNICEF as a technical partner, the district launched “Aama Sundargarh Swachh Sundargarh” in 2021, fully operational by early 2023. It was a fresh, community-driven approach, aiming to tackle open dumping, preserve village cleanliness, and create opportunities for women’s self-help groups. The overarching goal? To build a waste management model that rural communities could truly own and sustain.
Overcoming Challenges with Innovation
Implementing such an initiative in Sundargarh’s scattered villages and challenging hilly terrain presented its own set of hurdles. “To improve efficiency, we introduced customised battery-operated vehicles for waste collection, making their work easier and more effective,” Mahajan shares.
Women at the Forefront: Driving Change and Earning Dignity
From source segregation to advanced sorting techniques and operating machines like balers and shredders – these women have received comprehensive technical training and have truly taken the lead. Today, they manage the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Kuarmunda and several other decentralized collection centers, proving that with the right support, local women are powerful drivers of sustainable change.
Their efforts have managed over 360 metric tonnes of plastic waste and generated a remarkable Rs 17 lakhs in revenue. This translates into tangible empowerment: “More than 470 women have been actively engaged in this work, earning an average of Rs 6,500-7,500 per month,” says the district collector.
A Swachhta Sathi’s Story: Monika Minz
Monika Minz, a 50-year-old Swachhta Sathi from Kacharu Gram Panchayat, embodies this transformation. “In 2021, I received training where we learned about the harmful effects of unsegregated waste on animals. When cows and goats consume such waste, it disrupts their digestion and can lead to their death. To combat this, we segregate the waste,” she explains.
Monika now starts her rounds at 7 AM, collecting a variety of waste items. After delivering it to the segregation center, it’s processed and recycled. “I’ve even implemented these practices in my home,” she proudly states. Before this initiative, Monika worked as a house construction laborer.
“I prefer my current job because it allows me to work from 7 to 10 in the morning and gives me the freedom to manage the rest of my day as I wish. I earn Rs 6,725 per month, which is more than I earned previously. This income has greatly helped me pay my children’s school fees on time and manage household expenses. I take pride in this work, as the community calls me ‘Swachata Didi,’ and I feel it is a form of service,” she shares with a smile.
A Model for the Nation: Impact and Future
The project, with a total investment of around ₹14 crore, has grown exponentially. By 2024, it reached over 1,682 villages and impacted 3.6 lakh households, nearly 70% of Sundargarh district’s rural population. Sundargarh’s success was recognized with the award for the best performing district in Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) for plastic waste management.
For Manoj Mahajan, this initiative is deeply personal and fulfilling. “It brings together environmental impact, economic upliftment, and social empowerment, especially through the livelihood opportunities it creates for women’s groups,” he says. He recounts a tribal woman’s gratitude in Kuarmunda, whose stable income of Rs 6,800 per month has transformed her family’s financial stability and supports her three children.
“This initiative has completely changed the way people see cleanliness in villages. With the active involvement of Swachha Sathis, the community space is now clean, healthy, and more aware than ever before. Next year, we expect over 700 Swacchta Sathis to join our initiative,” he concludes, looking towards an even brighter, cleaner future for Sundargarh.
All images courtesy Manoj Mahajan IAS.
Source: Original Article
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