Nestled amidst the towering peaks of the Jap Himalayas, Sangti village, a pristine paradise, is residence to the Monpa folks — a vibrant neighborhood steeped in custom. But, even on this idyllic setting, the spectre of air pollution has solid an extended shadow. Through the years, the village’s residents have witnessed the Sangti river, as soon as flowing crystal clear, burdened by the unwelcome weight of plastic waste.
However like the gorgeous black-necked crane hovering above the majestic Himalayan hills, the residents of Sangti valley have taken flight in opposition to the encroaching tide of air pollution. Should you go to the realm, you’ll end up on the cusp of a village transitioning right into a city.
In 2018, Ittisha Sarah, 32, stumbled upon this hidden gem. Her go to as a tour teacher for a bunch of college children travelling from Assam — after finishing her Social Design course at Delhi’s Ambedkar College — grew to become a reverie she would catch on to 2 years later. This may result in the Sangti Challenge — an try and steadiness growth with sustainability.
Immediately, the folks of Sangti, in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng district, dedicate three days a month, based mostly on the Buddhist lunar calendar, to make sure all waste within the village is managed effectively. Ittisha and her organisation ‘Northeast Waste Collective’ have obtained recognition from the district administration and the State Authorities for establishing the community-based administration mannequin aimed toward making Sangti a zero-waste village.
“They (Northeast Waste Collective) have been doing good work; and the perfect half about them being right here is that they’re doing it contemplating the native sentiments,” says Akriti Sagar, Deputy Commissioner cum District Justice of the Peace, West Kameng.
However as is the case with all good tales, the Northeast Waste Collective’s journey was fraught with challenges and classes from failures.
From scholar to sustainability champion
Ittisha’s journey as a waste warrior started after she accomplished her bachelor’s diploma in economics from Pune’s Symbiosis Institute of Know-how. “I realised that this wasn’t my cup of tea. I didn’t see myself working in a company setting. I didn’t know what to do subsequent, however I did know what ‘not’ to do,” she shares.
“I stumbled upon a course on social design provided by Ambedkar College, Delhi, and I had no concept what it was then. It was my first time listening to the time period, however the design side intrigued me,” she shares. “The mix of ‘social’ and ‘design’ piqued my curiosity, so I utilized for the course. It gave me the chance to step exterior the classroom and interact immediately with folks, looking for real-world options to on a regular basis issues.”
In 2014, a youthful Ittisha from Guwahati, Assam, had no concept that 9 years later she can be dwelling in a rented home in Sangti, Arunachal Pradesh, working alongside villagers to advertise sustainable dwelling within the Himalayas.
“I met Ittisha in Delhi whereas giving a chat on ‘Journey to Gentle’ [a fundraiser for The Batti Project], the place I defined how we have been producing funds,” says Merwyn Coutinho, co-founder of The Batti Challenge, underneath the Additional and Past Basis, which has illuminated a number of distant villages in Arunachal Pradesh.
“In Bengaluru, we informed folks about our work with The Batti Challenge in Arunachal and talked about that we would want assist. As an alternative of asking for donations, we inspired them to contribute by donating their digital waste,” he explains.
At the moment, Ittisha had chosen e-waste as the topic for her dissertation. “Not many individuals have been researching digital waste at the moment. So I might learn plenty of analysis papers after which attempt to determine locations the place digital waste recycling is occurring in and round Delhi. Then I might exit onto the sphere to find the locations,” she remembers.
Other than exposing her to e-waste, her on-ground work throughout her thesis additionally uncovered her to stable waste and the numerous issues it brings together with it.
As per a 2021 World Financial institution report, waste technology in India is projected to achieve 388.77 million tonnes a 12 months by 2030. The ecologically delicate Indian Himalayan Area (IHR) that stretches from Ladakh within the West to Arunachal Pradesh within the East is especially susceptible to the challenges this may occasionally carry.
The report reveals that municipal stable waste technology in IHR is roughly 14,450 tonnes per day or over 5.2 million tonnes per 12 months. A majority of this drawback plagues city centres, however with the appearance of tourism and growth to cater to it, this quantity is anticipated to rise exponentially within the subsequent few a long time.
In 2017, after finishing her dissertation, Ittisha determined to start out one thing to deal with this drawback within the Northeastern states. She partnered with Merwyn and Rajiv, initially working for The Batti Challenge, and shortly establishing the Northeast Waste Collective.
“My journey to Sangti started in 2018,” Ittisha remembers. “A good friend who runs a journey firm, which was simply beginning out on the time, reached out to ask for my assist.” She was given the position of tour teacher, main a bunch of college college students to a summer season camp. “There was one thing about this place — it felt like deja vu. The river, the valley, the fields, all the pieces appeared acquainted,” she says, including, “However even right here, waste was a noticeable drawback.”
Along with her background in waste administration and social design, Ittisha couldn’t assist however react to the environmental challenges she witnessed in Sangti. “All I may do was conduct a cleanup drive with the assistance of the youngsters. For the village, it was the primary time such a factor was occurring, the place outsiders have been coming and choosing up their trash,” she provides.
To make a extra lasting influence, they determined to create a bamboo construction within the form of a black-necked crane to function a rising waste set up. “The thought was to encourage the neighborhood to deposit their waste on this designated house, guaranteeing that waste is contained in a single place fairly than scattered across the space,” Ittisha explains.
“I couldn’t do something extra as a result of there was so little time that we have been there, and I returned to Guwahati,” she says.
“Then we did a number of programmes in Arunachal Pradesh’s Bhalukpong and Roing,” Merwyn informs.
The chance to ascertain a community-led waste administration system in Sangti arose when the group was contacted by neighborhood members looking for their help in organising a music pageant. Neither Merwyn nor Ittisha have been enthusiastic concerning the occasion. “The environmental influence of those festivals in these pristine areas is just not actually nice,” Ittisha explains.
“I’ve been a part of many festivals, and I haven’t discovered them to be useful except a neighborhood comes collectively and decides on one thing extra significant for his or her society,” Merwyn provides. “So, I informed them that if you wish to create a neighborhood programme, why not work round waste? We may help you arrange a system the place the neighborhood themselves can handle waste, and this pageant could possibly be a celebration of that achievement.”
“We defined to the neighborhood that we don’t actually see the purpose in folks from town coming to distant areas to look at an artist carry out who can be from the identical metropolis. As an alternative, how about having vacationers come to your house to see what you need to supply?” Ittisha elaborates.
“Sangti is a spot wealthy in tradition and biodiversity, and their principal pageant is Losar (Himalayan Buddhist New 12 months). So we pitched, ‘How about opening Losar to the world?’ to them,” she shares. After giving it a thought, the neighborhood members of Sangti agreed and determined to offer it a shot.
So, the Additional and Past Basis and the Northeast Waste Collective got here collectively to accomplice with Hum (an initiative working to create community-driven ecologically-regenerative programs) and Namgey Khandu (a neighborhood member of Sangti village) to organise the Monyul Gathering in February 2020.
Ittisha and Merwyn took this chance to introduce the idea of waste administration to the neighborhood. By the start of 2020, Sangti had began treading the trail to turning into a zero-waste village. “For the pageant, we arrange the preliminary basis for the waste administration programme that’s operational in Sangti,” Merwyn informs. “Sangti had turn out to be litter-free round that point. We constructed a mini facility the place we may retailer the waste.”
Nevertheless, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than COVID hit and the pandemic disrupted months of exhausting work.
Overcoming obstacles: Sangti’s journey to a zero-waste future
“After the pandemic struck, there was a pause,” Merwyn says, including, “We have been making an attempt to lift funds by way of the Authorities to assist the neighborhood by way of infrastructure and different wants, however it failed miserably. The cash was sanctioned, however not all of it reached the neighborhood. There was some corruption concerned.”
After the lockdown was lifted, they determined to return to Sangti to evaluate the scenario. Upon their return in 2022, members of the Northeast Waste Collective realised that they have been again to sq. one. Ittisha and Merwyn reinstated the programme. “We tried to determine new leaders — new neighborhood members who may take accountability and lead this process ahead,” Merwyn informs.
At the moment, nevertheless, Merwyn selected to distance himself from the challenge and Ittisha took full accountability. By January 2023, Ittisha rented a home in Sangti and made the village her base. “After I needed to do all of it on my own, I realised that the type of work we’re making an attempt to do in Sangti requires driving a behavioural change and that it can’t be finished if we’re not right here,” Ittisha elaborates.
She began dealing with the challenge with the assistance of some volunteers. “My intention was to design a community-led waste administration system. However it’s tough to slim down any single mannequin relating to waste administration in distant mountain villages,” she explains.
“What I used to be making an attempt to do is be certain that all waste generated is managed, even when the neighborhood isn’t capable of do it at this level,” she informs. “I might handle it for them whereas additionally figuring out challenges and designing a system that the neighborhood could lead on.”
Working intently with the villagers, Ittisha efficiently established the foundations for a mannequin that integrated native traditions and ensured efficient waste segregation and administration with out counting on exterior assets.
“They’ve been participating with the neighborhood and making an attempt to create consciousness whereas additionally guaranteeing waste segregation on the supply,” Akriti says. “That’s the essential concept of the community-led waste administration mannequin. It’s a social innovation challenge, and I imagine if we proceed and broaden it to different areas, it may well have a optimistic influence, at the very least from an consciousness standpoint.”
Step one was to make sure full waste segregation on the supply. “We have now achieved this in each family,” Ittisha says.
For the gathering course of, a committee of 4 girls and 4 males was established to supervise the gathering of waste from households. The committee members take turns gathering the waste and transporting it to the Supplies Restoration Facility (MRF). To make waste administration much less burdensome for the neighborhood members, Ittisha determined to combine it into the native traditions of the Monpa folks.
“I attempted to co-design this with the neighborhood in a method that nobody actually feels burdened with it,” Ittisha says. “It must be as straightforward and as handy for them.”
The Monpas have 4 to 5 holy days a month in response to their Buddhist lunar calendar. On as of late, they don’t even farm, and primarily, the times are noticed as holidays. Three of as of late — the eighth, fifteenth, and thirtieth — have been designated for particular waste administration duties.
The eighth of each month has been designated as Social Service Day. On at the present time, one individual from each family is remitted to take part in cleansing up their respective colonies. “We have now appointed colony-in-charges,” Ittisha informs, including that they’re chargeable for guaranteeing the cleanup drive operates easily.
The fifteenth and the thirtieth are devoted to waste assortment. “We additionally constructed a convergence with the regional sheep breeding farm,” she explains. “The thought was to minimise our dependency on exterior assist and attempt to share assets which might be already there throughout the neighborhood.”
The third step was a secondary segregation course of, which takes place on the village’s MRF. “We have now been capable of combine 100 plus girls from self-help teams who volunteer their effort and time to do the secondary segregation of the dry waste that’s collected from households,” Ittisha informs.
At the moment, two PLFs — Sangti Valley and Namdroling — have taken cost of secondary segregation.
“With the assistance of the SHG girls, we segregate the waste additional on the MRF,” Dechen Paldon, president of the Namjoling PLF, says. “We divide the waste based mostly on its composition and construction. Bottles, plastics, and so on are separated right here.”
She additionally talks concerning the challenges they face throughout monsoons when the water can support the expansion of pests within the sacks. “Typically some folks miss segregating the waste correctly, or as a consequence of rains, bugs and pests fill the sacks,” Dechen provides. “Typically it discourages girls, and so they decide out of the work. However in my PLF, I discuss to them and inform them we’re doing good and it’ll take time.”
Dechen expresses immense delight in having the ability to take part in retaining their village waste-free.
“Earlier, it was very soiled right here. Regardless of the place you appeared, you might see plastics and bottles thrown. However as we speak there’s a big enchancment,” she says. “After all, there are challenges, however we attempt to hold the ladies always motivated in order that we are able to proceed the nice work.”
She is hopeful that as time progresses and the group is ready to enhance infrastructure, the method will turn out to be simpler and see extra lively participation from the neighborhood members.
By working intently with the neighborhood, Ittisha was additionally capable of persuade the Gaun Bura (panchayat head) to place in place a penalty system for these lacking neighborhood work on the three designated days with no real cause.
“Lots of work has gone behind organising, framing, and passing these guidelines,” Ittisha says, including that she is hopeful that as extra funds are available in, they’ll have the ability to enhance the infrastructure of the MRF and by way of logistics.
“It has at all times been difficult,” Ittisha acknowledges. “To get folks to work with waste, it takes loads, particularly the dry waste segregation bit. The entire thing will turn out to be simpler when our infrastructure improves,” she provides.
The tourism conundrum
The key a part of the Jap Himalayan ranges in Arunachal Pradesh is among the many most picturesque vacationer locations in India. Because the easternmost state, it’s the first Indian land to greet the morning solar, incomes the nickname ‘Land of the Daybreak-lit Mountains’. However with the next inflow of vacationers, the ecologically delicate area will inevitably see an exponential enhance in waste technology.
Sangti village is not any exception.
To accommodate and invite vacationers, new buildings and infrastructure may be seen arising in Sangti, regularly reworking it right into a extra urbanised space. This progress brings with it the problem of managing elevated waste manufacturing.
“As you recognize Sangti is an upcoming vacationer hub, and there are many homestays which might be mushrooming there. Geographically it’s a blessed and delightful village,” Akriti says, including, “So, there’s plenty of scope for tourism there; numerous eating places and campsites have come up.”
To deal with this drawback, the West Kameng administration is actively working to unfold consciousness. “Before everything, it’s the neighborhood that should take the lead; solely the communities can educate the vacationers to not litter,” Akriti says.
“These are community-driven areas, and right here the sensation of neighborhood is kind of excessive. Communities have been sensitised to not let vacationers litter on the bottom, and we have now designated locations the place plastic waste may be saved. We then gather it and get rid of it on the acceptable website,” she provides.
Pema Sangay — who runs a homestay within the village and has actively embraced the zero-waste tradition — says that each one his visitors are educated concerning the village’s zero-waste initiative and requested to maintain their waste segregated as properly.
Elaborating on different initiatives taken by the administration, Akriti continues, “We’ve been conducting quite a few consciousness actions. We have now additionally been issuing penalties, in response to state bylaws, particularly on the town areas. We’re encouraging folks to keep away from utilizing plastic and go for native alternate options, as tribal communities typically have sustainable choices.”
“You might need seen that in most of our festivals, we use bamboo glasses as an alternative of plastic baggage. We encourage the usage of native alternate options and conventional consuming strategies to minimise plastic waste. Particularly on the riverside, we’ve at all times seen that the areas are saved clear,” she provides.
The administration can be participating with homestay house owners within the district, advising them to tell vacationers concerning the significance of correct waste disposal.
Akriti is happy that the folks of Sangti Valley, with the assistance of the Northeast Waste Collective, are efficiently balancing growth with sustainability. “We, because the district administration, are additionally supporting their efforts,” she says. “It’s the SHG women who’re main the initiative, and they’re guaranteeing its success. We’re seeing optimistic suggestions for the challenge.”
The West Kameng district Justice of the Peace additionally informs that to deal with the numerous concern of transportation, the administration and the NGO are discussing numerous measures, together with a collaboration with the Indian Military.
Concerning the Northeast Waste Collective, Akriti says, “Their greatest benefit is their involvement with the neighborhood; that’s a very powerful side of waste administration.”
“For Ittisha, when you’ve began one thing, even for those who’ve failed, you must attempt to keep your enthusiasm and motivation and attempt for the perfect,” says Merwyn. “Immediately, no matter is occurring in Sangti, the whole credit score goes to Ittisha as a result of she continued.”
(Edited by: Pranita Bhat; Photos: Northeast Waste Collective)
