Stree Mukti Sanghatan joins hands with ALMs of Powai

By Staff Reporter

Stree Mukti Sangathan (SMS), a non-government organisation working for ragpickers in the city—will turn waste into gas and manure. To make it a success, the SMS is training its members in waste management to help Powai become garbage free.

"Thousands of our parisar bhaginis collect and segregate the garbage. Some of it is used for gardening, the rest is taken to the plant for conversion into gas and manure," said Kalpana Shinde, coordinator of SMS while speaking to housing societies and residents gathered at the eco mela organized by Meluha the Fern ALMs of Powai last Saturday January14th at the Heritage Gardens.

Chairman of the Meluha the Fern ecotel ALMs of Powai, Punish B. Sharma introduced the Tri Mukti Sanghatan to the society saying, "The dedication of Stree Mukti Sanghatan workers prompted us to involve them in this ALMs project. They can work with housekeeping in each building to take away free of cost all dry garbage. It will lead us to not only a cleaner city, but eventually to a cleaner country. We are making BMC's job easier." The SMS workers cover many pockets in Mumbai. All housing societies are requested to kindly register with ALMs of Powai for this initiative.

The event saw the BMC Solid waste management team, many housing societies representatives of Raheja Vihar, Powai Vihar, Nahar Shakti, Chandivli, Lake homes, Old IIT Powai market area, Hiranandani Gardens Complex, Jal Vayu, Panch Kutir, Kailash complex as well as Sun city complex of Gandhi Nagar take part. Several NGO’s gathered to hear the message on garbage segregation as well. Dignity Foundation, In Defence for Animals, MBA Foundation, Vasantha memorial NGO for cancer detection and cure, Suicide prevention center, GIANTS group of Rambaug and Powai, Young Environmentalists, Asha for education, Senior citizens groups as well as the green wing of Rodas eotel adorn several stalls at the garden event.

“We should work together to segregate garbage. The BMC cannot do it by itself if you do not first segregate garbage at home,”voiced Prabhakar Khopkar Sub-Engineer of the BMC ‘S’ ward office while speaking at the function. “There is a lack of dumping grounds and if the women’s group of rag pickers can assist in collecting your garbage , why not co-operate.”

Most citizens blamed the BMC trucks of putting both wet and dry back into the truck together again as there were no separate dumping grounds. Therefore the Stree Mukti Sanghatans method of segregation was encouraged at the function. With an effort to bring about a peaceful and clean environment here in Powai helping solve numerous issues and problems voiced S.K.Saksena an experienced veteran of Powai, active social worker and member of ALMs Powai, at the event, “This will work with the help of Meluha the Fern Advanced Locality Management (ALM) in Powai, responsibility eventually lies in our own hands, it is upto us to make this compulsory. All buildings must participate in active participation to organize the garbage segregation.”

Seema Redkar the chief of ALMs of the MCGM addressed the audience regarding giving up their garbage for a good cause, “No matter what is proclaimed about garbage segregation the main problem is segregating at home first! How many of us really have two dustbins or two collection bags. One wet and One dry?” Further continued Redkar regarding the difficulties faced by the menial BMC staff, “It is them who pick up our leftovers, have you ever thought that it would be respectful to help the rag pickers do their job.Citizens and BMC must work together.”

Also present was Mrs. Sheetal Satish Raut from the Mayor’s office who spoke diligently about making Powai a garbage free zone, “We must join hands with the Sanghatan. Many housing societies have registered their respective buildings at the event for a free pickup of dry waste services provided by the Tri Mukti Sanghatan. The sanghatan has been picking up garbage and recycling the same for the past fifteen years with much success. We can work together to bring about a change.”

Kalpana Shinde, chief of the Trimukti Sanghatan requested all buildings at the eco Mela to help implement the wet and dry issue, she says, “We would like all housing societies to co-operate with us so that we can help you free your area of litter. Join hands to successfully launch the wet and dry garbage management. Demo will be given to each building and we will co-ordinate with all buildings to collect all dry garbage free of cost so that this way, at least one part of the garbage will be recycled making more room for the waste garbage at the dumping grounds.”

Shinde gave a demo of how two different colored garbage bags could be used at home for domestic garbage, a coloured or white one for dry and a standard black one for wet garbage.