When five Paryavaran Sakhis (Friends of the Environment) started door-to-door waste collection and its processing in Sahastradhara, they were prepared for the social challenges that awaited them. Despite these obstacles, the Paryavaran Sakhis were determined to forge ahead with their mission, driven by a deep sense of commitment to environmental conservation and community empowerment. Their preparedness shows not only their dedication but also their resilience in the face of potential adversity, highlighting their role as catalysts for change in their community.
“One of the first obstacles I faced as a Sakhi was when a resident denied giving his waste to me because I belonged to an upper caste. He was ready to give me money, but not his waste. For him, that would be breaching the holy caste system our society operates in. How do I convince him that I work not for the money, but for the environment,” shared Geetika Saklani from Asthal Gram Panchayat, who holds a master’s degree in Sociology and has played an active part in village self-help groups in the past.
Geetika embarked on a journey to challenge taboos that bound her community, which considered waste management a forbidden path, particularly for someone of her caste, gender, and educational background.
Despite facing initial reluctance, Geetika united women from her village, including Sudha, Sulekha, and Uma, and together they founded a collective called ‘Kalpana Paryavaran Sakhi Samooh’. They assumed the mantle of waste management in Raipur Development Block, Dehradun, defying stereotypes and caste-based hierarchies in the process.
Over the last few months, Geetika and her team went door to door, collecting more than 7,000 kgs of waste in an e-loader, which they just recently learned to drive. The Paryavaran Sakhis of Raipur have managed to promote proper disposal practices by generating awareness among villagers about the dangers of littering, dumping and burning trash. This is testament the power of collective action for the common cause of a cleaner and healthier environment.
