'Safai Karamchari' is a student-led and student managed initiative. A group of 13 girls from grade 9th and 10th came together in the summer vacation of 2018 and decided that they needed to solve the 'waste mismanagement' problem which was plaguing their communities of Sangam Vihar, Tigri and Madangir in New Delhi. They formed a group called 'Young Safai Champs' and started a project called 'SAFAI KARAMCHARI'.

These 13 crazy environment lovers from Govt. Girls Senior Secondary No.3, Sector 4, Dr Ambedkar Nagar, New Delhi now called themselves 'SAFAI CHAMPS'.To know better about the intensity of the Waste Mismanagement, CHAMPS also visited The Okhla Landfill and had a conversation with the manager at the site.

All 'SAFAI CHAMPS' brainstormed about the problem statement. After scientifically researching about plastic, polythene, and biodegradability and the suggested laws for disposal, collection, and management; the 'CHAMPS' decided that the problem is not waste, but the mismanagement while collection and absolute lack of segregation.
 

The solution

100 per cent monetized and organised segregation at the source(i.e. homes).
The solution did not need any high technology gadgets for implementation, rather an awareness, a culture set up and daily practice and checking mechanism, motivated by money which can be procured by selling the waste for recycling. 
The project plan was laid out, with weekly goals, timelines, incentives and even rewards for the 'CHAMPS'
 
The ABCs for 'SAFAI KARAMCHARI' would be;
A: Awareness
B: Basic Management and Collection
C: Community Effort
 
The GOAL: To connect 50 families in 8 weeks who will dedicatedly and continuously segregate Biodegradable and Non-Bio degradable waste at their homes.

How?

Each SAFAI CHAMP will:
1. Identify 3-4 households in her neighbourhood
2. Convince the family to put two dustbins in the house. (One for Bio and the second is a cardboard box for all the plastic waste)
3. Check every day whether segregation is happening or not by putting checklists inside the houses.
4. Ensure that the kitchen waste( Bio-Waste) is not being thrown in Polythene bags, rather SAFAI Paper Bags made by CHAMPS
5. Collect the waste weekly and bring it to the learning centre (A place in the community), so that it can be sold to 'kabadiwala' for recycling.
 Hence, managing, collaborating and leading Segregation in their Neighbourhood.

 
To promote awareness regarding the same, posters were stuck and a 'Nukkad Natak' was performed in the area.
 To bring in the community, MLA of the region was involved and the tuition teachers of the CHAMPS to have more participation.

 

The Result

After 8 weeks, 47 families and 15 kgs of Plastic Waste Collected.
The Learnings have been shared in various Teach For India classrooms across Delhi and over Social Media.

Our next aim is to reach 150 households in the area. To MAKE SEGREGATION A HABIT, only to solve this ever-ignored problem of WASTE MISMANAGEMENT. DO Help us.