9th June 2023
Savitribai Phule Gender Resource Centre, Parel
We chose to celebrate World Environment Day on June 9th, 2023, which coincided with Laadli Day, the day Laadli was launched in 2005. The day also marks 20 years of our director, Dr A. L. Sharada's involvement with the organisation.
The event was made possible with the support of UNFPA and was organised in collaboration with LEAP Cities. The event aimed to honour and appreciate the Laadlis (beloved) of Stree Mukti Sanghatana (SMS) and their crucial role in waste management in the city. It brought together Waste Warriors and people who are working on environmental issues. Thus the event raised awareness about important issues related to waste management.
The event started with a song by the Stree Mukti Sanghatana about Savitribai Phule, taking into account that the event was being held at Savitribai Phule Gender Resource Centre. The event commenced with a warm welcome from team Population First, expressing gratitude to the participants for joining the afternoon festivities. The participants included around 130 waste pickers, the
Stree Mukti Sanghatana team, LEAP Cities team and our very own Ms Dolly Thakore and Mr Bobby Sista; Mr Bobby Sista, our Executive Trustee, took the stage and welcomed the guests. In his heartfelt speech, he expressed deep appreciation for the unwavering efforts and commitment of the Waste Warriors. Mr Sista emphasised the vital role these dedicated individuals play in creating a cleaner and healthier environment for every resident of Mumbai. He highlighted the fact that the work of waste pickers often goes unnoticed and expressed his appreciation that Laadli had chosen to recognise and award them on Environment Day, as it is a much-needed gesture of acknowledgement.
Furthermore, Mr Sista spoke passionately about how Laadli has become a platform for celebrating women, empowering them, and providing them with a rightful place in society. To celebrate Laadli Day, a short video was shown highlighting the work ccomplished through the Laadli Initiative and its programs.
Jyoti Mhapsekar, the founder and President of Stree Mukti Sanghatana, graced the stage as an introductory speaker. Her extensive experience and dedication to social causes, including waste management, made her a source of inspiration for the audience. Jyoti highlighted the challenges faced by Waste Warriors and emphasised the importance of their work in creating a more equitable society.
Throughout the program, the SMS Cultural Group delighted the audience with their inspiring performances, enchanting everyone with their beautiful songs. These musical interludes added a delightful artistic flair and entertainment to the event. The songs covered a diverse range of topics, including the inspiring life of Savitribai Phule, the stories of waste pickers, and their advocacy for their rights and demands. Ms Dolly Thakore, the National Coordinator of Laadli Media and Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity, presented the Waste Warriors Award to Stree Mukti Sanghatana (SMS). She congratulated SMS for their hard
work and efforts in making Mumbai a better place to live. Ms Thakore praised SMS for empowering women and helping communities.
Manas Rath from LEAP Cities introduced the panel and the waste warriors by shedding light on how important it is that their voices are heard. Alka Dhupkar, an esteemed Mumbai-based multimedia journalist, facilitated an insightful discussion with Waste Warriors. The panel included Vanarasi Lokhande, who works at the biogas plant; Indu Ahire, who works at the compost-making project; and
Saraswati Sadawart, who works at the beach cleaning project. The conversation provided a platform for the panellists to share their experiences, challenges, and insights regarding waste management and environmental issues. She introduced the workers and discussed their journey into waste management. Through SMS interventions, the workers learned the importance of savings and better-understood waste segregation. However, they highlighted the lack of recognition and entitlements they receive. Alka emphasised the need for proper rights, social security, and acknowledgement of their vital role. There were also discussions about their involvement in composting and the challenges they face due to the limited adoption of waste segregation practices. She concluded the conversations by emphasising the need to refer to waste workers as "Safai kaamgars" (cleanliness workers) rather than the term "Kachrawala" (waste workers), acknowledging their tireless efforts in cleaning up after us, the creators of waste.
The subsequent panel discussion featured experts in waste management who brought diverse perspectives and expertise to the conversation. Sushila Sable, President of Parisar Bhagini Vikas Sangh, shared insights on the establishment and functioning of the federation and its collaborative efforts with Stree Mukti Sanghatana (SMS) to improve the lives of waste pickers and their families,
particularly in education. She highlighted the evolving gender dynamics within the waste management sector, with more women taking on traditionally male-dominated roles. Ambily Adithyan, Zero Waste Cities Program Lead at the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), provided valuable insights into GAIA's global efforts to implement waste and climate action plans in collaboration with community leaders. She emphasised grassroots campaigns against incinerators and GAIA's advocacy for a comprehensive global plastics treaty. Purav Desai, Founder of Refillable, shared his company's journey in eliminating single-use plastics and their recent initiative of providing essential groceries in refillable containers. The panel discussion explored waste management issues, solutions to plastic pollution, and sustainable practices, leaving the audience with a deeper understanding and a path for collaborative efforts. The event closed with Ms Malathi Kembhavi, Programme Coordinator, Laadli, delivering heartfelt closing remarks. She expressed gratitude to all the participants, speakers, and Waste Warriors for their contributions and dedication to environmental causes and thanked LEAP Cities for their contribution.
In conclusion, the World Environment Day event served as a significant platform to acknowledge and appreciate the remarkable contributions of Waste Warriors while raising awareness about the pressing issues surrounding waste management. The event underscored the crucial role of effective waste management practices in establishing a cleaner and more sustainable environment. Notably, the event also shed light on the specific experiences faced by women in the waste management sector, highlighting the challenges they encounter and the resources they lack. Meaningful panel discussions and insightful conversations revolved around addressing these issues and finding solutions to overcome them. It was a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.
The detailed documentation report would be shared with the media persons to create greater awareness about Gender issues in waste management.