Women empowerment through waste management

Hunasur

In a testament to the belief that any work is valuable, but a dignified life is essential, women from Hirikyathanahalli, Pushpanjali, Shakuntala and Meenakshi have taken the initiative to manage waste in their village, ensuring cleanliness through waste processing and transportation.

Initially, there was resistance from family members, but with the support of their spouses, they launched their waste management efforts in December 2023. Pushpanjali shares, we started this project with encouragement from our partners.

Shakuntala and Meenakshi, both of whom completed their Pre-University Course   joined the team with determination. They proudly declare, now we have emerged as successful women.

Shakuntala describes the challenge of driving the waste collection vehicle as daunting. However, she received training from a local organization, Rudsit, which enabled her to obtain her driver's license. She now drives the vehicle to collect waste from villages within a 20 km radius of the Hirikyathanahalli Panchayat, including Shirenahalli, Nanjapur, Maruru, and Keragalakoppalu. Shakuntala expressed, The Sanjeevini group has been a support system for us to build a new life. I never imagined I would be driving a vehicle, but I have proven that I am ready for any task.

Since the launch of the Sanjeevini program under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, there are 1,993 self-help groups with a total of 26,579 members in the taluk. According to Manjula Naragund, the program manager, waste collection has been particularly successful in 16 out of 41 panchayats, led by women.

Meenakshi, a member of the waste management team, stated, we are living proof that with dedication and faith in our work, success can be achieved.