
one of yous people keeps asking me are you crazy
you crazy
you crazy why do you do this dirty job
go and get a decent job
go and get a decent job I simply smile back yes I collect
I simply smile back yes I collect
I simply smile back yes I collect garbage that’s my profession and that’s
garbage that’s my profession and that’s
garbage that’s my profession and that’s a profession I choose voluntarily and
a profession I choose voluntarily and
a profession I choose voluntarily and I’m proud about it so it surprised
I’m proud about it so it surprised
I’m proud about it so it surprised people because I hail from a will remote
people because I hail from a will remote
people because I hail from a will remote tiny village in northern part of Kerala
tiny village in northern part of Kerala
tiny village in northern part of Kerala so I was the first person from my
so I was the first person from my
so I was the first person from my village who went on to Delhi University
village who went on to Delhi University
village who went on to Delhi University and successfully completed graduation
and successfully completed graduation
and successfully completed graduation and post-graduation in a history subject
and post-graduation in a history subject
and post-graduation in a history subject so all of a sudden these guys come back
so all of a sudden these guys come back
so all of a sudden these guys come back to form and started collecting the waste
to form and started collecting the waste
to form and started collecting the waste so isn’t it crazy enough so what made me
so isn’t it crazy enough so what made me
so isn’t it crazy enough so what made me to do that the couple of options
to do that the couple of options
to do that the couple of options having done with my college days there
having done with my college days there
having done with my college days there was couple of options before me
was couple of options before me
was couple of options before me that’s one everybody does pursue higher
that’s one everybody does pursue higher
that’s one everybody does pursue higher studies like I am feelin phd’s or look
studies like I am feelin phd’s or look
studies like I am feelin phd’s or look for a job
for a job
for a job the third thing especially especially
the third thing especially especially
the third thing especially especially art students does prepare for civil
art students does prepare for civil
art students does prepare for civil service exams none of those options
service exams none of those options
service exams none of those options actually fascinates me I wanted to do
actually fascinates me I wanted to do
actually fascinates me I wanted to do something meaningful for the society
something meaningful for the society
something meaningful for the society which can have a larger impact and
which leaves a footprints behind me once
which leaves a footprints behind me once we leave this world so I have decided
we leave this world so I have decided
we leave this world so I have decided that I will do something in the
that I will do something in the
that I will do something in the development sector so the next problem
development sector so the next problem
development sector so the next problem was what is that doe mine where I’m
was what is that doe mine where I’m
was what is that doe mine where I’m going to focus in for the rest of my
going to focus in for the rest of my
going to focus in for the rest of my life or which I can commit so uh I did a
life or which I can commit so uh I did a
life or which I can commit so uh I did a bit of travelling research it was
bit of travelling research it was
bit of travelling research it was shocking for me that 75 percentage of
shocking for me that 75 percentage of
shocking for me that 75 percentage of diseases in our country is due to
diseases in our country is due to
diseases in our country is due to environmental pollution air report says
environmental pollution air report says
environmental pollution air report says that and India produces 52 million tons
that and India produces 52 million tons
that and India produces 52 million tons of solid waste per year and so where
of solid waste per year and so where
of solid waste per year and so where does these ends of the waste which we
does these ends of the waste which we
does these ends of the waste which we generates in a daily basis 77 percent
generates in a daily basis 77 percent
generates in a daily basis 77 percent days ends up either in landfill or
days ends up either in landfill or
days ends up either in landfill or incinerator or ocean what one lacks
incinerator or ocean what one lacks
incinerator or ocean what one lacks people die in our country due to
people die in our country due to
people die in our country due to waterborne diseases it’s horrible
waterborne diseases it’s horrible
waterborne diseases it’s horrible look at this is using 1900 hectares of
look at this is using 1900 hectares of
look at this is using 1900 hectares of land for land filling these are diets in
land for land filling these are diets in
land for land filling these are diets in 50s for cities just does not include
50s for cities just does not include
50s for cities just does not include city like Ellicott so if you go in this
city like Ellicott so if you go in this
city like Ellicott so if you go in this way we need this area we will need a
way we need this area we will need a
way we need this area we will need a 1400 square kilometer area for land
1400 square kilometer area for land
1400 square kilometer area for land filling this area is e equal to if you
filling this area is e equal to if you
filling this area is e equal to if you put Chennai Mumbai and Hyderabad
put Chennai Mumbai and Hyderabad
put Chennai Mumbai and Hyderabad together this will be same as this so uh
together this will be same as this so uh
together this will be same as this so uh this garbage man eyes is going to be a
this garbage man eyes is going to be a
this garbage man eyes is going to be a huge problems our country is going to
huge problems our country is going to
huge problems our country is going to face in this decay so there must be
face in this decay so there must be
face in this decay so there must be solutions so I have decided that I want
solutions so I have decided that I want
solutions so I have decided that I want to make this planet a better place to
to make this planet a better place to
to make this planet a better place to live in for the generations to come no
live in for the generations to come no
live in for the generations to come no just to the human beings but to all the
just to the human beings but to all the
just to the human beings but to all the living beings though on this planet so I
living beings though on this planet so I
living beings though on this planet so I started my journey in Coimbatore in City
started my journey in Coimbatore in City
started my journey in Coimbatore in City I wanted to start from the scratch so I
I wanted to start from the scratch so I
I wanted to start from the scratch so I joined a couple of waste collecting
joined a couple of waste collecting
joined a couple of waste collecting people
people
people these people were my colleagues actually
these people were my colleagues actually
these people were my colleagues actually in every day morning we dig we go around
in every day morning we dig we go around
in every day morning we dig we go around city and collects the garbage and you
city and collects the garbage and you
city and collects the garbage and you will bring into a place will be actually
will bring into a place will be actually
will bring into a place will be actually segregate different segregated to
segregate different segregated to
segregate different segregated to different kinds of plastics people’s car
different kinds of plastics people’s car
different kinds of plastics people’s car cartons metals glass and all one thing I
cartons metals glass and all one thing I
cartons metals glass and all one thing I found really interesting that the lot of
found really interesting that the lot of
found really interesting that the lot of waste materials the so-called the waste
waste materials the so-called the waste
waste materials the so-called the waste material we consider as waste material
material we consider as waste material
material we consider as waste material is no more waste it’s a resource which
is no more waste it’s a resource which
is no more waste it’s a resource which has a value for it but needs to be
has a value for it but needs to be
has a value for it but needs to be properly collector transported and
properly collector transported and
properly collector transported and disposed for example PET bottles like
disposed for example PET bottles like
disposed for example PET bottles like water bottles which we actually throw
water bottles which we actually throw
water bottles which we actually throw away our purposes which is of no use to
away our purposes which is of no use to
away our purposes which is of no use to you you once you once you finish with
you you once you once you finish with
you you once you once you finish with your drinking you you travel right you
your drinking you you travel right you
your drinking you you travel right you might have seen a lot of people or scrap
might have seen a lot of people or scrap
might have seen a lot of people or scrap dealers rag-picking people the picks it
dealers rag-picking people the picks it
dealers rag-picking people the picks it up so we need to redefine the way we see
up so we need to redefine the way we see
up so we need to redefine the way we see the waste it may be ways for you water
the waste it may be ways for you water
the waste it may be ways for you water bottle may be waste for you which is of
bottle may be waste for you which is of
bottle may be waste for you which is of not use to you but does know what means
not use to you but does know what means
not use to you but does know what means that it’s a vase for everyone take the
that it’s a vase for everyone take the
that it’s a vase for everyone take the example of what do the animal eats like
example of what do the animal eats like
example of what do the animal eats like cows pigs dogs our food leftovers our
cows pigs dogs our food leftovers our
cows pigs dogs our food leftovers our foot to them so our waste is food to
foot to them so our waste is food to
foot to them so our waste is food to them so a waste which if you want to
them so a waste which if you want to
them so a waste which if you want to call it as a waste unless and until it
call it as a waste unless and until it
call it as a waste unless and until it reaches the ocean or unless it until it
reaches the ocean or unless it until it
reaches the ocean or unless it until it reach it pollutes the area or water soil
reach it pollutes the area or water soil
reach it pollutes the area or water soil then only you can call it as a waste so
then only you can call it as a waste so
then only you can call it as a waste so I realize that 70 to 80 percentage of
I realize that 70 to 80 percentage of
I realize that 70 to 80 percentage of the so-called materials which we usually
the so-called materials which we usually
the so-called materials which we usually burn or you know dump it are not waste
burn or you know dump it are not waste
burn or you know dump it are not waste it’s a resource but then the next thing
it’s a resource but then the next thing
it’s a resource but then the next thing was that I was actually looking at the
was that I was actually looking at the
was that I was actually looking at the sources of waste household waste other
sources of waste household waste other
sources of waste household waste other industrial waste other little commercial
industrial waste other little commercial
industrial waste other little commercial commercial waste hospital waster the
commercial waste hospital waster the
commercial waste hospital waster the different sources actually so what we
different sources actually so what we
different sources actually so what we often miss
often miss
often miss very important souls actually so this is
very important souls actually so this is
very important souls actually so this is the this is a dining table when
the this is a dining table when
the this is a dining table when everybody has left because everybody
everybody has left because everybody
everybody has left because everybody comes and eats drinks and enjoy the
comes and eats drinks and enjoy the
comes and eats drinks and enjoy the leaves right so what we do is that it
leaves right so what we do is that it
leaves right so what we do is that it becomes a waste we fix food we fix the
becomes a waste we fix food we fix the
becomes a waste we fix food we fix the spins across the events and make sure
spins across the events and make sure
spins across the events and make sure that vet and dry waste is being
that vet and dry waste is being
that vet and dry waste is being separated the source we train these
separated the source we train these
separated the source we train these people or we our own stars will go and
people or we our own stars will go and
people or we our own stars will go and all the other drivers plastics spoons
all the other drivers plastics spoons
all the other drivers plastics spoons they pose and all and to other drivers
they pose and all and to other drivers
they pose and all and to other drivers we do a kind of secondary segregations
we do a kind of secondary segregations
we do a kind of secondary segregations and we sent it for recycling in a single
and we sent it for recycling in a single
and we sent it for recycling in a single event were around eighteen thousand
event were around eighteen thousand
event were around eighteen thousand people had gathered and even it was
people had gathered and even it was
people had gathered and even it was wedding actually it was a former
wedding actually it was a former
wedding actually it was a former minister son’s wedding around eighteen
minister son’s wedding around eighteen
minister son’s wedding around eighteen thousand people gathered splitting in
thousand people gathered splitting in
thousand people gathered splitting in two days this was what we had recovered
two days this was what we had recovered
two days this was what we had recovered it’s another another event it was a
it’s another another event it was a
it’s another another event it was a large conference don’t see lakhs of
large conference don’t see lakhs of
large conference don’t see lakhs of people who had attended so we uh we set
people who had attended so we uh we set
people who had attended so we uh we set up a kind of with node setups waste
up a kind of with node setups waste
up a kind of with node setups waste management plants we set up resource
management plants we set up resource
management plants we set up resource recovery centers because we no longer
recovery centers because we no longer
recovery centers because we no longer considers a waste so we set up resource
considers a waste so we set up resource
considers a waste so we set up resource recovery centers at the conference
recovery centers at the conference
recovery centers at the conference ground itself and we actually we do the
ground itself and we actually we do the
ground itself and we actually we do the segregation see and another events we
segregation see and another events we
segregation see and another events we have trained a gown we trained on 100
have trained a gown we trained on 100
have trained a gown we trained on 100 volunteers action only for this purpose
volunteers action only for this purpose
volunteers action only for this purpose it was the first time in the history of
it was the first time in the history of
it was the first time in the history of Kerala that hundred volunteers are only
Kerala that hundred volunteers are only
Kerala that hundred volunteers are only for the waste management so we train
for the waste management so we train
for the waste management so we train these people how to segregate to two
these people how to segregate to two
these people how to segregate to two different kinds of plastics people’s
different kinds of plastics people’s
different kinds of plastics people’s aluminum’s Cotton’s and all so this is
aluminum’s Cotton’s and all so this is
aluminum’s Cotton’s and all so this is the quantity of waste we have which we
the quantity of waste we have which we
the quantity of waste we have which we had recovered from another another event
had recovered from another another event
had recovered from another another event see this all this would have gone to
see this all this would have gone to
see this all this would have gone to landfill or incinerator this is how they
landfill or incinerator this is how they
landfill or incinerator this is how they used to dispose then I found that the
used to dispose then I found that the
used to dispose then I found that the real waste management is not about
real waste management is not about
real waste management is not about managing
managing
managing least once it’s generates it’s about
least once it’s generates it’s about
least once it’s generates it’s about preventing the waste generations it’s
preventing the waste generations it’s
preventing the waste generations it’s like we saves and preventive medicine
like we saves and preventive medicine
like we saves and preventive medicine security medicines right so it involves
security medicines right so it involves
security medicines right so it involves a lot of operations human labor and all
a lot of operations human labor and all
a lot of operations human labor and all to recover this process and also it’s
to recover this process and also it’s
to recover this process and also it’s not a sustainable solution what if there
not a sustainable solution what if there
not a sustainable solution what if there is not someone like me tomorrow to pick
is not someone like me tomorrow to pick
is not someone like me tomorrow to pick this up on to Leinster they will do the
this up on to Leinster they will do the
this up on to Leinster they will do the whole practice so I started shifting my
whole practice so I started shifting my
whole practice so I started shifting my focus do something different yes
focus do something different yes
focus do something different yes everybody is in Kerala everybody’s
everybody is in Kerala everybody’s
everybody is in Kerala everybody’s familiar with this banana leaf but I
familiar with this banana leaf but I
familiar with this banana leaf but I don’t know how many of you have eaten
don’t know how many of you have eaten
don’t know how many of you have eaten biryani or non-vegetarian banana leaf
biryani or non-vegetarian banana leaf
biryani or non-vegetarian banana leaf now if we thing is something it’s very
now if we thing is something it’s very
now if we thing is something it’s very it should be you know when luffy is
it should be you know when luffy is
it should be you know when luffy is supposed to eat in vegetarian and some
supposed to eat in vegetarian and some
supposed to eat in vegetarian and some traditional food so we started supplying
traditional food so we started supplying
traditional food so we started supplying these banana leaves to different events
these banana leaves to different events
these banana leaves to different events so that you see the glass it’s a these
so that you see the glass it’s a these
so that you see the glass it’s a these are not purple glass of water bottles
are not purple glass of water bottles
are not purple glass of water bottles these are reusable glasses so at the end
these are reusable glasses so at the end
these are reusable glasses so at the end of the event there is no waste left
of the event there is no waste left
of the event there is no waste left behind you can put everything in one bag
behind you can put everything in one bag
behind you can put everything in one bag or you can put everything inside even in
or you can put everything inside even in
or you can put everything inside even in one pitch we actually compost all kinds
one pitch we actually compost all kinds
one pitch we actually compost all kinds of driving bit raised then I was more
of driving bit raised then I was more
of driving bit raised then I was more look it was looking I was looking for
look it was looking I was looking for
look it was looking I was looking for more alternatives actually how can you
more alternatives actually how can you
more alternatives actually how can you organize a wedding with zero waste then
organize a wedding with zero waste then
organize a wedding with zero waste then I found out these are addict cannot
I found out these are addict cannot
I found out these are addict cannot leave plates and glass cups and that’s
leave plates and glass cups and that’s
leave plates and glass cups and that’s why just at the same time I start
why just at the same time I start
why just at the same time I start renting out glass cups because in an
renting out glass cups because in an
renting out glass cups because in an event there would be different kinds of
event there would be different kinds of
event there would be different kinds of desserts so we use paper cups for that
desserts so we use paper cups for that
desserts so we use paper cups for that it would be pile some and there will be
it would be pile some and there will be
it would be pile some and there will be different dishes so we have different
different dishes so we have different
different dishes so we have different kinds of this reusable stuff which we
kinds of this reusable stuff which we
kinds of this reusable stuff which we rent it out for two schools have
rent it out for two schools have
rent it out for two schools have gathered in one place for a festival
gathered in one place for a festival
gathered in one place for a festival like that around 4000 people attend
like that around 4000 people attend
like that around 4000 people attend there they actually ordered four
there they actually ordered four
there they actually ordered four thousand water bottles so I just set up
thousand water bottles so I just set up
thousand water bottles so I just set up I introduced a concept called water
I introduced a concept called water
I introduced a concept called water kiosk
kiosk
kiosk because at the end of the events again I
because at the end of the events again I
because at the end of the events again I need to manage those 4,000 bottles so I
need to manage those 4,000 bottles so I
need to manage those 4,000 bottles so I order around 60 cans of water with the
order around 60 cans of water with the
order around 60 cans of water with the nifty capacity and at the end of the
nifty capacity and at the end of the
nifty capacity and at the end of the event
event
event there was no water bottles so that’s
there was no water bottles so that’s
there was no water bottles so that’s something we have done and for me the
something we have done and for me the
something we have done and for me the base management should start from once
base management should start from once
base management should start from once inner-self
inner-self
inner-self note from the disturbance the drinking
note from the disturbance the drinking
note from the disturbance the drinking all our drinking water sources will be
all our drinking water sources will be
all our drinking water sources will be polluted the air we breathe will be
polluted the air we breathe will be
polluted the air we breathe will be poisonous as we have seen in Delhi the
poisonous as we have seen in Delhi the
poisonous as we have seen in Delhi the soil which gives food to us will be
soil which gives food to us will be
soil which gives food to us will be infertile so I end with a quart of
infertile so I end with a quart of
infertile so I end with a quart of Martin Luther King which always inspire
Martin Luther King which always inspire
Martin Luther King which always inspire me our lives begin to end the day we
me our lives begin to end the day we
me our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter
become silent about things that matter
become silent about things that matter thanks
”
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