In continuation of organizing different multiple activities under Swachhta Pakhwada programme of the institute from 15th Dec 2023, a special talk was organized at ICAR-IIHR on 20.12.2023 on the topic Community driven waste management initiative and making ICAR-IIHR zero waste management institute by Mrs. Padmashree Balaram, Solid Waste Management Practitioner and Climate Actioner, SVP India, Bengaluru. The programme began with formal welcome by Dr.B. Balakrishna, Principal Scientist and Officer In-charge, SBA of the institute. Dr. Ramya, H. R., Scientist, Division of Social Sciences and Training gave the details of SBA and Swachhta Pakwada, including why these programmes were initiated by Govt. of India, what are the activities undertaken, kind of support extended under these programmes and their impact in rural and urban areas to make the country clean and green. The chief guest Mrs. Balaram explained on how self-empowered community initiative on solid waste management was done by their team in Koramangala market, Madiwala market and Yelahanka market in Bengaluru city. They motivated vendors in Madiwala and Koramangala market and also the farmers, who leave their unsold produce to segregate market waste separately like fruit/vegetable waste, plastic/ paper waste and reject waste, etc. About 95% waste was segregated and the fruit/vegetable waste was sent to many NGOs/ Goshala/piggeries to feed the animals. The Koramanagala team has developed the decentralized solution for waste management. In the Yelahanka, they started a project called Swachhata Belaku with an objective to integrate the solid waste management system. Using her experience in solid waste management, she suggested lot of practical tips on effective way of management of solid waste in the institute as well as in our residential areas, through segregation at source, in collaboration with civic bodies.
There was interactive session with all the participants on how to manage the waste in various places (laboratories, fields, surrounding paces of the institute, etc.) and many concrete suggestions were given on linking the vendors and agencies for safe disposal / recycling of mulching sheets which is being extensively used in different vegetable crops in the institute as well as in farmers’ fields. There was good and productive discussion on BBMP role in waste management and also how we can make our campus zero waste management institute. During his presidential remarks the Director Prof. Sanjay Kumar Singh suggested many programmes, strategies and need for intensifying the waste management programmes in the institute, including specific emphasis on safe disposal of the many chemicals and agents, plastic items used in various research programmes of the institute. He also told that he will extend all possible support in making the institute a zero waste management campus including exploring the possible measures and initiatives to get corporate funding for different activities of the institute including to make the surrounding areas and villages clean and green.
