Matribhumi Samachar English
Community Ambassadors and Decision-makers Unite to Celebrate Community-Driven Efforts and Discuss the Future of Waste Management in Informal Settlements
Kanpur. Ekjut Kanpuria hosted an event in Kanpur to felicitate community ambassadors from informal settlements, located near the rivers Ganga and Pandu, to laud their efforts in actioning the discourse around river pollution. The event acknowledged the work that is being done to create a healthy riverine ecosystem and was attended by dignitaries including Dr. Chandra Shekhar, City Health Officer, KMC, Swachh Bharat Mission (U), Shri Ram Chaurasia, Zonal Sanitation Officer, KMC, Mr. Shashank Shukla, District Project Officer, Namami Ganga Programme, Dr. Manas Upadhyay, Professor and Programme Officer, NSS, Kanpur University and Colonel Anoop Ojha, Commanding Officer, Ganga Task Force (GTF) Battalion Kanpur.
Smt. Neelima Katiyar, Hon’ble MLA and Ex. Minister, UP Govt. conveyed, “When Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan from the ramparts of the Red Fort, there were many who wondered why he was doing that. Today we see the impact of his vision. I truly admire the efforts and the transformation that Ekjut Kanpuria has managed to bring about. I commend Shramik Bharti for organising Ekjut Kanpuria and have witnessed the dedication of the people involved. This is truly commendable. We need to recognize that waste is not just something to be discarded; it should also be recycled. Your initiative’s efforts to promote cleanliness and health awareness in our community are commendable.”
“Ekjut Kanpuria’s vision extends beyond waste management; it emphasises dignity, inclusivity, and the creation of a sustainable and thriving urban ecosystem. This project envisions a future where informal settlements in Kanpur can actively contribute to building a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous community for generations to come,” says Utkarsh Dwivedi, Programme Manager at Shramik Bharati, working alongside the initiative for the betterment of their community.
Community ambassador Sumit Pandey from Rani ka Bagicha, said, “Earlier, we used to see the filth in our settlement, but we felt helpless. There was no awareness about waste management, yet, there was a longing in our hearts for something to happen that would change everything. Then we heard that people from Shramik Bharati were conducting the meeting on cleanliness; that’s when we felt that maybe this was the platform to change the destiny of our settlement, so we joined Ekjut Kanpuria. After that, everything changed; our entire perspective shifted. We received training on managing wet and dry waste, and on composting. We were taught how to beautify dirty places through art. We wholeheartedly got involved, and today, with everyone’s help, we have largely succeeded in cleaning our settlement and drafted our asks and learnings in a document to collaborate with local bodies to keep our locality clean. Now, we want to take the work of Ekjut Kanpuria to the surrounding areas as well to realize the dream of the Swachh Bharat Mission.”
The government’s Namami Gange Programme and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) have provided a comprehensive blueprint through community platforms for cleaning ghats, intercepting drains, waste segregation, industrial waste management, effluent treatment, and more. Ekjut Kanpuria supports these efforts by actively engaging communities and highlighting the crucial role of local involvement in shifting the narrative around pollution.
Just last October, news reports raised concern about the severe contamination levels of Ganga. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that Ganga’s water quality in Kanpur had rendered it unsuitable not only for bathing but even for human contact. In such a scenario, Ekjut Kanpuria fosters a sense of ownership among those living in close proximity to the river. It empowers them with the knowledge of responsible solid waste management and demonstrates that anyone, regardless of their socio-economic background, can take micro-actions and adopt positive community behaviour to actively contribute to waste reduction and proper waste disposal.
On the occasion, the members of Ekjut Kanpuria shed light on community work including audits of the solid waste situation, community workshops & solution planning, household composting initiatives, beautification activities, as well as a charter of ‘asks’ addressed to the local Pradhan.
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