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Paryavaran Mitra: A small revolution

Existing in the fringes of society rag-pickers in Gujarat’s commercial capital are finally being able to lead a life of dignity

The first kernel of the ‘ParyavaranMitra’ concept was sown four years ago when six participants of PRM 33, well into their second term, decided to spend a few days in Ahmedabad trying to gauge the waste disposal landscape in the city while their contemporaries were busy interacting with alumni who had gathered at IRMA as part of the annual all alumni reunion. One of the six participants was Ashish Agrawal (AA) who is now actively involved with an Ahmedabad-based NGO known as Manav Sadhna. Quitting his job with a state livelihood mission he decided to work with rag-picking women in a bid to strengthen their livelihoods. The rag-pickers, referred to as Paryavaran Mitras, are fondly called “our sisters” by Ashish.

Prof. Madhavi Mehta, who was invited to witness the first profit sharing event, interacted with Ashish to gain insights into the genesis and prospects of the enterprise. This article is an attempt to share with Network some information about this small revolution that has been taking place in the quiet, serene environs of the Sabarmati Ashram under the aegis of ManavSadhna- an NGO operating within the premises of the Ashram.

MM: How did it all start?

AA: It all started when an idea germinated regarding presenting this model at a B-plan competition at the Indian Institute of Human Settlements. It was about providing a solution to the problems of a tier-II city. We were a group of six enthusiasts from IRMA who presented this model. The model was quite well designed with proper research to back it up, so we ended up becoming the finalists. We had conducted our primary research in Ahmedabad owing to its geographical proximity to IRMA. Coincidently, Manav Sadhna, too, was thinking of an initiative of this nature. The judges being aware of ManavSadhna’s intent linked us with them and then there was no looking back.

MM: Why did YOU decide to plunge into this project?

AA: While pursuing PGDRM at IRMA we had presented at least 20 business models on various subjects. This was a unique opportunity to actually implement one. Also, there was a need to have this kind of intervention in order to introduce dignity and respect to such an important stakeholder whom we had been referring as a rag-picker so far.

MM: How were these women (ParyavaranMitras) working before the interventions by ManavSadhna and you?

AA: A typical life of a rag-picking woman starts at 3-4am. There are two reasons she goes out so early in the morning. One, in order to avoid interactions with people. That early in the morning there are hardly any people on the roads. Second, in order to avoid traffic while ensuring efficiency during collection. Very early in the morning these ParyavaranMitras are able to cover the maximum distance in minimum time enabling maximum collection thereby. After having travelled for 7-10kms and bending no less than 1000 times a ParyavaranMitra ends up acquiring nearly 20kgs of waste every single day. There are around 40,000 women in Ahmedabad picking up around 8,00,000 kilos of waste every day. Once they are done with the collection they start sorting the waste stopping at about 10am. After toiling so hard a ParyavaranMitra ends up earning Rs.100-120. Besides, not only is there no respect or dignity in the work but a lot of drudgery. Our model envisions bringing about holistic development in the lives of these women.

Although there are many aspects on which we work with ParyavaranMitras, the three main points of focus are:

a. Respect and dignity: Love and respect are the essentials of a happy life, something that has been true since the beginning. These women never received respect in any form even though it was well deserved.

We greet them with a smile when they come to our facility for selling the collected waste. Offering them a glass of milk and giving them a place to sit are small gestures to let them know that they are valued and admired.

b. Fair weight and rate: In the past, these women would be exploited with regard to the rate and the weight of the waste they collected. We offer them current market rates with absolutely pure measuring scale. The data below provide more details.

c. Health: Since they work in a very unhygienic environment, most of them suffer health issues that are generally not addressed.

Every ParyavaranMitra associated with us undergoes complete medical checkup, so that we know their health issues and concerns first hand. Then, our dedicated medical team conducts a proper follow-up to ensure that everyone gets the treatment they need.

MM: How has this intervention unfolded so far and what have been the returns to the women, ManavSadhna, and you?

AA: The journey has been amazing till now. Currently, we are operating through three centres at two different slum communities catering to nearly 200 women. We have, so far, facilitated the recycling of around 3,88,000 kilos of waste, distributed a sum of Rs.30,78,000 between the ParyavaranMitras against the waste purchased from them, generated employment for more than 25 people in addition to nearly 400 ParyavaranMitras whose lives we have touched at least once, skilled nearly 20 slum dwelling women to produce innovative products out of the waste collected by these ParyavaranMitras.

MM: Are there other players (individuals, NGOS, businesses, government agencies/missions/ departments) involved in this work with you? Or is this work conducted independently?

AA: For now, we are working as an independent organization. The only association we have is with our buyers. Rainbow Paper Ltd had been a phenomenal support to us since we started. They purchase everything that is paper based. There are some other buyers as well supporting us in this endeavour. Also, the Tarasadia Foundation and Dry Creek Charity of USA, RUPA Corporate and Befreefrom India had been a great support for us.

Contented PrayavaranMitras ready to carry home the “profit” earned from their business

There are many good agencies already working in this sector with a different vision. Some of them include SEWA, Let’s Recycle, and WoW (Wealth out of Waste).

The models are different for most of us. Our core vision is to bring respect and dignity to these rag-picking women. Solid waste management is the byproduct of the entire model. Agencies like Let’s Recycle and WoW are purely for profit ones. While SEWA has been doing a phenomenal job their aim is to provide an alternate source of income to rag-picking women. So, different players have been performing this task with a different vision. As a society every stakeholder is important for balance.

MM: What are your plans for the future- immediate, medium range, and long-term?

AA: Our vision is to create a self-sustaining model that could be implemented in localities where these ParyavaranMitras work. For us our goals are as follows:

a. Immediate plans: To make all the three centres completely self-sustainable. They should be taking care of all their costs while making some surpluses. We want to achieve this by the end of the current financial year.

b. Medium term plan: To increase the number women we are serving to 1000 spread across 5-7 centres along with our own recycling unit for them. We hope to achieve this target by 2020.

c. Long term plan: To share this model with those who are needy. The idea is to bring about some policy-level changes for everlasting benefits for the PMs from the government’s side. Most importantly, we wish to spread awareness about the PMs and their amazing service to society and the environment so that they can get the respect they deserve from us.

MM: What is the support that you are envisaging from different players? What further support is required?

AA: In order to run any organization different support systems need to be in place. In our case, firstly, we need good buyers of recyclables that we purchase from the rag-picking women. It is only when buyers offer better rates that the returns for the ParyavaranMitras are likely to get maximized.

Secondly, there are some initial fixed costs associated with the project. Till the time the project is not completely sustainable financial support is required to cover that cost.

Thirdly, continuous support in terms of motivated interns from academic institutes is required.

Last and most important, we are aiming for societal change in terms of attitude towards the ParyavaranMitras. We have started with the young minds. As of date, we are collaborating with five schools in Ahmedabad to spread awareness about rag-picking women and the phenomenal service they have been rendering for ages without any recognition and dignity. More resources on “ParyavaranMitra” for interested readers:

a. Website:www.paryavaranmitra.info

b. Video explaining the idea through students is available at: https:// drive.google.com/file/d/0B2pmQn N30HWGb2gxa2NiRk9SclE/ view?usp=sharing

 

Madhavi Mehta

Professor, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)

Email: madhavi@irma.ac.in