Sometime ago, SWM — People’s Forum, an offshoot of Mylapore Welfare Assocaition (MRWA), put out a humdinger of a poster about composting on its Facebook page. However, as of now, its engagement with the public via Facebook can't be called a regular process. But it is using other social media tools as well as offline programmes to keep the solid-waste management conversation going.
It has a WhatsApp group with about 160 members now, which not only has people from the Mylapore area, but also those from localities as far away as Anna Nagar and Pallikaranai. The WhatsApp group is said to be characterised by a constant exchange of ideas about effective solid waste management, at home, community and institutional levels.
The Forum is organising offline projects that have proved successful. One of them is ‘Dream Green’ which involves lessons on sustainability, terrace gardening and home-composting for school-going children. This project is being implemented at P.S Senior Secondary School and Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan in Mylapore through these institutions' eco clubs.
Another interesting project is ‘Thangapushpangal’, which involves volunteers of the Forum from Mylapore, Anna Nagar and Mandaveli. "They collect flowers offered to deities at temples the next day, and ensure they are used in composting," says Geetha Sridhar, a core member of the Forum.
The first compost pit for Project Thangapushpangal was constructed at the MLA’s office in Mylapore.
The Forum has been effective in raising awareness about best practices in waste management due to a broad volunteer base.
“Each volunteering volunteer group consists of 7-8 core members, who focus on create public awareness about leading a zero–waste lifestyle and creating a sustainable environment,” says Geetha. The Forum conducts regular meetings with MRWA to sharpen the focus of its initiatives, brings eminent speakers on the subject of solid waste management to its programmes, and also conducts exhibitions on different methods of composting, waste segregation and terrace gardening.
It works closely with residents and honours those known for following best waste management practices, as ‘green ambassador’ or ‘eco-warrior.’ The title of ‘green complex’ is conferred on an apartment complex or a gated community for the same reason.
Anyone keen on volunteering with the Forum may write to swmpeopleforum@ gmail.com.