Nagara Nyrmalya: A Docufilm
An engaging Docufilm about progressive Solid Waste Management
In collaboration with the Human Health and Well Being Division of United Nations Environment Programme, ESG initiated a pilot project aimed at developing the capacities of Pourakarmikas (municipal solid waste workers) of one Health Ward of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike towards evolving a sustainable strategy for management of community level municipal solid waste. As part of this project an evaluation of the work conditions of Pourakarmikas was undertaken with the aim of proposing suitable changes in appropriately managing this crucial workforce of the city. The scope of the project expanded with support of the Karnataka Department of Environment under the Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme, and became the basis of influencing similar interventions in Bangalore and other cities as well. A package of community educational material was developed which includes a dramatised and engaging educational video “Nagara Nyrmalya” involving leading actors who contributed to the cause pro bono.
A brief about “Nagara Nyrmala”
The film presents the efforts of “Santhimmi,” a Pourakarmika, as she motivates people in her neighborhood to adopt safe solid waste management techniques.
Solid waste or garbage strewn all over is a common sight in any Indian city. Little do we care about how it is disposed, where it is disposed, who disposes it and of our role, as citizens, in this entire process. “Nagara-Nyrmalya” addresses the complex issues involved in solid waste management and the problems faced by “Pourakarmikas” (solid waste workers, also known as “Safai Karmacharis”) in their efforts at maintaining healthy neighborhoods in the city. This entertaining human drama presents the efforts of “Santhimmi,” a Pourakarmika, as she motivates people in her neighborhood to adopt safe solid waste management techniques. The film highlights how such small efforts could help vastly improve our approach to solid waste management in cities, big and small.
“Nagara-Nyrmalya” addresses the complex issues involved in solid waste management and the problems faced by “Pourakarmikas” (solid waste workers). The film’s purpose is to convince communities that the problem of solid waste management is not one of “dump and forget” by using Pourakarmikas as “mere extensions of brooms”, but one where the individual and the community creatively engage with Pourakarmikas in finding a sustainable solution to the problem. “Nagara Nyrmalya” has the potential of supporting this neighbourhood movement to improve our local environment
