Bhubaneswar: On completion of some of the Micro Composting Centres (MCC) in state, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has planned to rope in Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to support the daily activities involved in waste collection at the centres.
MCCs are a vital component in the waste management chain. While these centres can process up to five tonnes of wet waste a day, an on-site composting yard, usually set up at parks, can process up to one tonne of organic waste. There are 43 micro composting centres awarded under the project out of which, the layout process of 10 composting centres have been completed. The scientific solid waste management projects, designed to initiate citizen participation, will be community-managed after their completion.
“As per the plan, one SHG will be assigned to every MCC. Four of its members will be ‘Swachh Sathi’ and will be paid Rs 4000 per month through their SHG. One of the SHGs of each locality will nominate suitable members as Swachh Sathi. While the Higher Secondary cleared candidates are preferred, the educational qualification may be relaxed in case of non-availability of suitable candidate,” a senior official at the BMC said.
Apart from sensitising people about ‘Swachhata’ and ‘Bhubaneswar One’ apps, the work of a Swachh Sathi will involve assisting the civic authority in IEC activities and door-to-door waste collection in the locality. The move is aimed at greater participation and empowerment of women by the urban local body here.
The targeted MCCs are divided under executive engineers for two divisions. Under Divison-I, Prasanti Vihar, Patia, Palasuni, Niladri Vihar near Isaneswar Temple, Hatiasuni Temple, GA plotted area of Bharatpur, Kalinga Nagar and open space near N-3 and Ekamra park area will be covered. While Division-2 will cover areas under Laxmisagar and Pokhariput, an STP near Kalinga Nagar will have a centre too. Besides, the Temporary Transit Station (TTS) near Sainik School which has been treated as a composting centre will have an additional centre.
“About 98 Swachh Sathis have already been identified and their rudimentary orientation by BMC and GIZ (German International Cooperation) has been planned to be over by the end of this month. In case of shortage of SHGs peer group members under Socially Smart Project of BSCL-BMC and UNFPA would be selected as Swachh Sathi,” the official added.