- Mr. Anand Jagtap (Officer on Special duty, MCGM)
- CBO Head: Mr. Sunil Bandekar
- United Way Mumbai & Mumbai Helpline: Rishi Aggarwaal, Shahil Thomas & Ayesha K. Lodhi
- Garbage Concern (NGO):
 Mr. Ramanand Kowta
Proceedings of the meeting
A meeting with almost 30 families took place inside a Balwadi at Hanuman Nagar. Mr. Anand Jagtap, Mr. Ramanad Kowta, Mr. Aggarwaal all in their own way conveyed the importance of waste segregation, and its benefits.
It was quite a long and extended meeting. All women present were very receptive to the idea. It was decided that they would separate their wet and dry garbage at their homes, and a place to start vermicomposting was also selected (outside the Balwadi near one of the community toilets).
Second Meeting - Trip to Sakinaka, Ambedkar Nagar, 2nd March 2007
 Around 40 women of this area were taken on a trip to Sakinaka, Ambedkar Nagar where vermicomposting has been successfully carried out with the help and support of Jhanavi Charitable trust and the local slum dwellers. This slum area is juxtaposed next to the water pipeline.
Seeing a slum area as similar as theirs, with clean environs and a successfully running vermicomposting pit, the women of Hanuman Nagar were inspired to take up the initiative in their area. Mr. Ramanand and Mr. Michael from Garbage Concern, Ashley Parriera from Jhanvi Charitable trust explained them about the complete process of vermicomposting pit, the role of earthworms, and how at the end of the process natural compost is obtained.
Note: Dr. Mrs. Francin Pinto from garbage concern is providing manpower and expertise for vermicomposting, and awareness on waste segregation in Hanuman Nagar. Mr. Michael Peter from garbage concern has been constantly monitoring the drums with wet waste.
On 1st March 2007, Ms. Ayesha had documented the entire process of door to door waste collection in Hanuman Nagar.
Third Meeting - 7th March 2007
 Mr. Ramanad, Mr. Michael and Ms. Ayesha and Mr. Shahil Thomas gave a demonstration on waste segregation to the residents of Hanuman Nagar. A big garbage bin was emptied and it was manually segregated by Mr. Michael with help from sweepers.
The wet waste was emptied into the drum for storing wet waste, and the dry waste stored in a sack to be sold to the Raddiwala. This exercise made the whole concept of waste segregation very clear to all the residents.
Mr. Michael trained two of the sweeping staff and their Supervisor Ms. Geeta for the treatment of the wet waste with the EM Solution (a natural solution with microbes for decomposing the wet waste in a natural, the water that accumulates as a result of decomposition in the drum can be used a s a toilet cleaner and as a pesticide too), regular mixing, tilting of the entire lot everyday with the fresh waste etc. All of them showed full support and the sweeping staff were very happy to carry out this operation.
Before the demonstration session, Ms. Ayesha had been to the other slums areas (Patilwadi and Kantilal Compound Chawl) in the vicinity and spoke to few people from each area, including the proactive CBO leaders of each area, about the importance of waste segregation and the pilot project being carried out in Hanuman Nagar.
They showed support and agreed to go ahead with the project in their area too. Though this survey was just an exercise to analyze the attitude of the people from others slums, so that subsequently the work can be started here after Hanuman Nagar.
13 March 2007: Ms. Ayesha went to see if the wet waste in the drums is being managed properly, and spoke to the residents for any problems regarding waste collection. Everything was in place.
Since then we all have been collectively monitoring the situation have been constantly in touch with Mr. Bandekar, Ms. Geeta and one resident Mrs. Anuja Bandekar. Mr. Michael has already put up two more drums there for the wet waste. Mr. Bandekar has already forwarded an application to the BMC Ward Office for constructing the vermicomposting pit.
Fourth Meeting -
27th March 2007
Visit by Ms. Roma Kapoor From United Way International, USA Washington, (Director, Resource Development, India Initiative)
Others present: Ms. Ayesha K. Lodhi, Ms. Francin Pinto (Garbage Concern), Ms. Preeti Prabhu (United Way Mumbai), Mr. Sunil Bandekar
We showed her how the dry and wet waste has been segregated, the drums with wet waste. Mrs. Pinto gave her a background about waste segregation in the area, and various other examples of areas in Mumbai where waste segregation is being carried out.
She was taken for a round of the area and she observed how the waste is collected from door to door. She interacted with the ladies of the area. Mr. Bandekar showed her a big Nulla and how inspite of having a big bin just besides it some people throw their waste in the Nulla. Though according to him this has reduced considerably, and they clean the Nulla regularly.
Overall a very interactive meeting and Ms. Roma was visibly elated to see the work in this area, and meeting the local people. |
