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Journalism of Courage
Soon after the Ganesh idol immersion on Thursday marking the end of the 10-day-long Ganesh festival, SWaCH waste pickers of the Pune Municipal Corporation sprung into action and collected 150 tonnes of votive offerings for composting. They also segregated 40 tonnes of dry waste that mainly consists of plastic bags, clothes , footwear, etc, from the immersion points.
In an effort to have sustainable celebrations through the annual ‘Nirmalya to Nisarga’ initiative launched in 2007, over 200 waste pickers were stationed at 40 immersion centers across the city.
Despite the rains on both days of immersion, the waste pickers shouldered the monumental task ahead of collecting floral and dry waste across the city.
‘Nirmalya to Nisarga’, which has been in force for over 15 years, has helped environmentally conscious citizens conduct immersion celebrations without causing any harm to nature.
Waste pickers collected ‘Nirmalya’ offered to the deity separately on September 23 and 28 at major riverside Ghats and essential immersion centers across the city. Their efforts received a significant boost from over 120 volunteers, including corporate groups, social organisations, and students from schools and colleges.
The initiative by SWaCH organised in collaboration with Pune Municipal Corporation ensures that votive offerings such as flowers, leaves, and Durva shoots return to nature. This year, SWaCH also partnered with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the smooth execution of the initiative.
Many foreign tourists who flocked to Pune to witness the grandeur of the Ganpati festival took time to visit Nirmalya collection points. They were keen to learn about the details of the environmentally conscious initiative.
Shobha Bansode, SWaCH Board Member, was happy to note the public’s changing approach towards the celebration and the growing awareness for the environment.
“Over 15 years, we’ve seen a remarkable shift. Initially, we had to persuade the devotees not to litter during the festival. Now, most of them know SWaCH collects Nirmalya to preserve both the environment and culture. They even join us in celebrations… However, some still don’t segregate Nirmalya properly. We urge them to embrace eco-friendly celebrations and daily segregation of waste,” said Bhansode, adding that every year SWaCH takes on the responsibility of preserving Pune’s environment during its grandest festival.
The residents came out lauding the waste pickers’ dedication and hard work towards keeping the city clean and environmentally responsible in the aftermath of Ganesh festival. They acknowledged and celebrated the invaluable contribution of waste pickers, not only during the Ganpati festival but throughout the year.
Since its inception, this initiative by SWaCH has consistently seen waste-pickers collect over 100 tonnes of Nirmalya for composting every festival season.
