Women band together to address the garbage issue in Uttarakhand.

Mixed trash accumulates in open areas, chokes waterways, and pollutes the air when burned in rural Uttarakhand. The pure natural springs in Sahastradhara, Dehradun, a well-liked tourist site, have lost their allure due to the plastic waste that contaminates them.

Over 800 metric tonnes of dry garbage, mostly low-value plastic or paper, were produced between April 2024 and July 2025 by visitors, homes, and businesses in the major Sahastradhara market and 15 nearby panchayats. Solutions based on experienced community realities are needed because the issue is as social as it is environmental.

In recent years, some community members have partnered with civil society organisations to address this issue because it directly impacts their lives. The Waste Warriors’ Paryavaran Sakhi (friend of the environment) program, which was introduced in Corbett in 2021 in five areas—two gram panchayats, two van panchayats, and a village—is one such initiative. The model was extended to Sahastradhara in 2022. In addition to conducting door-to-door dry waste collection from homes and small businesses, women known as sakhis receive training from the nonprofit on waste management techniques and awareness-raising.

After being carried to the plastic waste management unit (PWMU), the waste is meticulously sorted by the sakhis into fifteen various categories, including paper, single and multi-layer packaging (MLP), and polyethylene with varying densities. Paper and MLP waste are then fed into a baling machine to form bales, which are then sorted and delivered to various recyclers. The duties of a sakhi go beyond gathering and sorting rubbish. They educate women about sustainable menstrual methods, encourage improved habits, increase awareness of waste, and help kids develop eco-friendly behaviors. We repeated the program in six Sahastradhara panchayats in 2022.

Almost all of the job requires sakhis to cross the challenging hilly terrain, so the task hasn’t been simple. Additionally, we had to acquire the trust of the local leadership, be aware of how the community views garbage, and make sure waste work is economically feasible.

Initially, they persuaded ward members and local pradhans, who are powerful in villages. We supplied necessities like salt, sugar, rice, and pulses and generated over INR 13 lakh in relief funds during COVID-19. The communities gained trust and confidence as a result of these initiatives. Outreach, however, was difficult. Meetings were frequently avoided by Pradhans, who would abruptly cancel or disregard them.

An important ally was Bir Singh Chauhan, a zilla panchayat member they knew from our prior lobbying work. He encouraged reluctant pradhans to interact with us and supported them by telling other ward members about our efforts.

We were able to attend events, spend time in villages, and build their presence prior to talking about garbage thanks to their sponsorship. We concentrated on six Sahastradhara panchayats outside of metropolitan jurisdiction because municipalities manage waste collection and sorting in urban wards. These rural panchayats lacked a structured system, in contrast to city wards that receive municipal garbage services and door-to-door collection. Waste was burned in public areas or deposited into streams by locals. This void was filled by their model, which resulted in more backing from local government.

We thought that women’s collectives would be the catalyst for change. They deal with garbage most directly since their everyday lives are closely linked to the land—they get water, gather fuel, and tend to fields. However, it took them some time to realize the damage dry waste created and how they might spearhead a solution.

Family discomfort and derogatory comments from neighbors were the main obstacles because garbage employment was viewed as improper by caste norms, particularly for women from upper caste families. Some acknowledged that they wanted to work in the field for a variety of reasons, including making a difference in the environment and making money, but they were afraid of what their neighbors and in-laws might think.

They thought that women’s collectives would be the catalyst for change. They deal with garbage most directly since their everyday lives are closely linked to the land—they get water, gather fuel, and tend to fields. However, it took them some time to realize the damage dry waste created and how they might spearhead a solution.

Family discomfort and derogatory comments from neighbors were the main obstacles because garbage employment was viewed as improper by caste norms, particularly for women from upper caste families. Some acknowledged that they wanted to work in the field for a variety of reasons, including making a difference in the environment and making money, but they were afraid of what their neighbors and in-laws might think.

Women were increasingly viewing waste work as environmental conservation. Regular discussions about plastic’s harmful effect on soil, water, and air clarified this. They realised that responsible waste collection and processing prevented dumping or burning and protected their environment. Cleaner streams and smoke-free air transformed what was considered a menial task into caring for their land and nature.

Once that happened, women began advocating for themselves. When Mukta Panwar (a paryavaran sakhi) joined us, she faced resistance at home. “People asked my mother-in-law, ‘Is this the only kind of work your daughter-in-law could get?’ My husband supported me, and I explained to my mother-in-law that this work is about the environment.”

Since income is strongly correlated with the dignity of the work, earning from waste work is at the core of the program. It’s challenging to turn waste into a source of income, particularly when most people assume it will be provided for free. Prior to their assistance, households in Sahastradhara burnt or disposed of their rubbish in canals. “Hum kooda bhi dein aur paisa bhi?” was the initial response when we implemented a user fee, which is a tiny monthly charge collected from homeowners to guarantee a consistent and dependable waste collection service. ”

Rows of kirana shops, dhabas, and cafes catering to visitors can be found in Sahastradhara; their waste is heavier and consists of plastic bottles, packages, and wrappers. They were persuaded by the Sakhis and team that a larger contribution is necessary for regular collection. Consequently, between April 2024 and July 2025, INR 93,150 was received from business entities.

Another source of revenue is recyclables. Recyclables are sent to certified recyclers following segregation. The number of hours worked determines earnings. A sakhi often earns the minimum pay of INR 440 per day, which is low but has altered their self-perception. Individuals joined and formed collectives of trash workers. As time went on, more women from the same towns and families came together.

Today, the sakhis have built their own self-sustaining network where they support one another beyond the scope of the project. For example, when a sakhi faces financial issues, the others pool in their resources to help. This solidarity and dedication is what sustains waste work. But beyond keeping the villages clean, the paryavaran sakhis’ journey is about reclaiming space, dignity, and voice in their communities in rural Uttarakhand.