Pune’s SWaCH Waste Pickers Ensure Green Ganeshotsav with Nirmalya Collection Initiative

Pune, 13th September 2024: As Ganeshotsav celebrations bring vibrant energy to the city, SWaCH waste pickers are once again stepping up to ensure that Pune stays clean and green. Now in its 15th year, the “Nirmalya to Nisarga” initiative continues to play a vital role in collecting and processing votive offerings during the festival. This year, over 200 waste pickers will engage with citizens across 45 key immersion sites, including newly added villages, on September 17th, ensuring that nature and tradition coexist harmoniously.

Launched in 2009, the “Nirmalya to Nisarga” initiative has seen waste pickers collect more than 100 tons of Nirmalya—organic offerings like flowers, leaves, and durva—each season. These items are gathered for composting, in collaboration with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and returned to the earth in a sustainable way. The initiative not only promotes environmental conservation but also respects the cultural significance of these offerings. SWaCH waste pickers, who collect waste from Pune’s doorsteps daily, continue to be an integral part of the city’s largest festival, ensuring cleanliness throughout the celebrations.

However, the waste pickers are facing uncertainty due to delays in renewing their long-term contract, which is essential for job security. On August 30th, SWaCH members held a protest to emphasize the need for prompt action. Despite these challenges, they remain committed to their mission of protecting the environment and supporting the festival’s cultural practices.

Saru Waghmare, a SWaCH Board Member, highlighted the strong bond between waste pickers and Pune’s citizens: “When we visit homes to collect waste, we are often welcomed and even included in the Ganpati celebrations. These gestures reaffirm our connection to the community. Although we are facing delays in securing our long-term contracts, which are critical for our livelihoods, we continue our work with dedication. We know that if we took even a single day off during the festival, the city would be overwhelmed with waste. That’s why, for the past 16 years, we’ve been faithfully attending immersion ghats to collect Nirmalya. This year, we once again urge Pune’s residents to hand over Nirmalya separately to SWaCH waste pickers and ensure it isn’t mixed with other waste. Together, we can safeguard the environment and uphold the rich traditions of our city.”

On September 12th and 17th, SWaCH waste pickers will be stationed at 45 designated collection points to gather Nirmalya. Both SWaCH and the PMC are calling on all citizens to avoid disposing of Nirmalya in open spaces, on bridges, or in Pune’s water bodies. By handing their offerings to SWaCH waste pickers, citizens can actively contribute to preserving Pune’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.