GENRE: Solutions

Decentralisation is the most effective way to manage waste, even in a health crisis such as the present. Towns like Panchgani and Ambikapur are setting examples for all.

It was not a mean feat — battling poverty, the lockdown and even antagonism from some higher powers. But in an amazing display of method, generosity and resilience, youth from Bhagat Singh Nagar slum gathered under the banner of ‘Bhakar Foundation’ to ensure noone in the slum went hungry.

Kerala initially declared a “state-specific health emergency” after three positive Coronavirus cases were reported in the state. However, it withdrew the declaration within days and today, the situation is largely normal. No fresh case has been reported from any part of the state.

It is widely acknowledged that the AAP government placed education reforms at the top of their agenda during their tenure, initiating many experiments, particularly in school education. While some of these have clearly yielded positive results, some have drawn sharp criticism.

The ‘thermally insulated’ compartments of unused, discarded refrigerators are being used as eco-friendly pots for growing a variety of vegetables on the ‘rooftop garden’ of Sayyed Madani Urdu Higher Primary School. The produce contributes significantly to mid day meals prepared in the school.

Ambitious, big-money plans remain on paper, but a women’s self help group comprised of waste pickers-turned-recyclers could help the hill station solve its ugly waste crisis.

Dehradun Smart City Limited’s innovative and community-centric initiative titled “Plastic Wapsi Abhiyaan” involved almost 20 government schools, engaging more than 5000 students and 100 teachers. Here’s how they did it.

While government disaster response teams focus on roads, electricity and other infrastructure, local community groups and volunteers try to mobilise residents to participate in the relief work being done in their localities, and especially the low income settlements.

While the Government of India has time and again emphasised the importance of cleanliness, Bengaluru has kept up the spirit of swachhata with a number of initiatives. See how an innovative waste collection station, plastic tiles and a compost school are reimagining waste management in the city.

The Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics, which aimed to take free primary health care to every neighbourhood, is a great hit among the people. But with just 189 operationalised in close to four years, can they prove to be a gamechanger where affordable public healthcare is concerned?

Water ATMs now provide around 2.9 lakh litres of safe, affordable water every month to residents of 40 slums in Bhubaneswar. But in a city which has 400 plus slums and where the total demand for water is estimated to hit 143 million litres a day in 2019, can this really be a significant game-changer?

In a rehabilitation and resettlement colony in Mumbai’s M-east ward, one of the most underdeveloped suburbs of the city, children have come together to form the Bal Adhikar Sangharsh Sangathan and take charge of tackling social and civic issues in the community.