April 2026

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

Dignity In Every Sweep - Upskilling Pourakarmikas of Bengaluru

Dignity In Every Sweep - Upskilling Pourakarmikas of Bengaluru

Behind every clean street is a sanitation worker whose dedication often goes unnoticed. Through the "Dignity in Every Sweep" initiative, Let's Be The Change, in partnership with Intel Technology India Pvt. Ltd. and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML), worked to strengthen the skills, safety, and dignity of Bengaluru's Pourakarmikas.

Over the course of the project, 2,551 sanitation workers across 22 wards in six divisions participated in 33 upskilling sessions, exceeding the project's original target. The training focused on scientific waste segregation, safe waste handling, workplace safety, personal hygiene, emergency response, and behavioural change, enabling sanitation workers to carry out their responsibilities more safely and efficiently.

To support their work on the ground, every participant received a thoughtfully designed hygiene and safety kit containing essential protective equipment and tools. The kits were customised based on consultations with sanitation workers and civic officials, while upcycled cloth bags produced by local tailors also created additional livelihood opportunities within the community.

A major highlight of the year was an exposure visit to Indore, India's cleanest city under the Swachh Survekshan rankings. Selected Pourakarmikas, supervisors, marshals, and officials explored advanced waste management systems, including GPS-enabled collection, transfer stations, material recovery facilities, biomethanisation plants, and integrated command centres. The visit inspired participants with practical ideas that can be adapted to strengthen Bengaluru's waste management systems. For many sanitation workers, it was also their first flight—making the experience both professionally enriching and personally memorable.

Beyond technical training, the initiative fostered greater confidence, dignity, and recognition for sanitation workers while promoting stronger collaboration between communities and civic authorities. Improved adoption of safety practices, increased awareness of waste segregation, and enhanced workplace confidence have contributed to building a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Bengaluru.

Project Highlights

• 2,551 sanitation workers trained

• 33 upskilling sessions conducted

• 22 wards across 6 Bengaluru divisions covered

• Comprehensive hygiene and safety kits distributed to participants

• Exposure visit to Indore for high-performing sanitation workers and officials

• Strengthened awareness of waste segregation, workplace safety, and personal hygiene

• Enhanced dignity, confidence, and capacity of Bengaluru's frontline sanitation workforce

Namma Swachha Adakmaranahalli Grama Panchayat(NSAGP)

We are excited to commence a new initiative titled “Namma Swachha Adakamaranahalli" aimed at strengthening sustainable waste management practices at the village level. The Adakamaranahalli Gram Panchayat consists of three villages—Adakamaranahalli, Makali, and Harokyatanahalli. Notably, Makali is home to the manufacturing unit of Himalaya Wellness Company.

Namma Swachha Adugodi (NSA) 

Every meaningful transformation begins with a community that believes change is possible. Over the past year, the Namma Swachha Adugodi (NSA) initiative continued its mission of creating a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Adugodi by bringing together residents, waste workers, government departments, volunteers and schools.

Implemented by Let's Be The Change (LBTC) in collaboration with Saahas, and supported by Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW), the project focused on strengthening solid waste management systems while encouraging every household to become an active participant in creating a zero-waste community.

The second year of the project expanded its reach significantly, covering six additional blocks and engaging thousands of households through awareness, behaviour change campaigns, infrastructure improvements and community participation.

Laying the Foundation:

A successful waste management system begins with understanding the community.

The year started with extensive groundwork across the adopted blocks. Household surveys, waste audits, silent segregation assessments and route mapping exercises were carried out to understand existing waste management practices and identify areas requiring intervention.

More than 500 households participated in detailed baseline surveys while thousands of homes were assigned unique identification numbers, enabling systematic monitoring of waste collection and segregation practices. These surveys helped the team understand not only waste generation but also community demographics, collection challenges and opportunities for improvement.

This data-driven approach enabled the project team to design interventions that were tailored to the unique needs of each neighbourhood.

Empowering Communities Through Awareness:

Behavioural change remained the heart of the NSA initiative.

Throughout the year, project teams visited households every day, speaking directly with residents about the importance of source segregation and responsible waste disposal. Colour-coded dustbin kits, stickers, pamphlets and educational materials were distributed to encourage households to adopt sustainable practices.

To strengthen communication, seven dedicated WhatsApp groups were created, allowing residents, government officials and waste collection teams to work together in resolving local waste management challenges.

Community meetings, evening awareness sessions and neighbourhood interactions created opportunities for residents to ask questions, share concerns and become active partners in keeping Adugodi clean.

In total, 122 awareness activities were conducted across the project area, reaching thousands of community members.

Inspiring Change Through Community Events:

Learning becomes more meaningful when communities participate together.

Throughout the year, several creative awareness programmes transformed environmental education into enjoyable community experiences.

Residents enthusiastically participated in Rangoli competitions, Mehendi competitions, street mobilisation campaigns, children's awareness games, temple awareness programmes, and community rallies. These activities encouraged families, women and children to understand waste segregation in interactive and engaging ways.

Children learned proper waste segregation through games, while adults joined discussions that reinforced sustainable habits within their households.

These community-led activities strengthened neighbourhood participation and encouraged collective responsibility towards cleaner public spaces.

Driving the Circular Economy:

One of the defining features of the project was its focus on reducing waste before it reaches landfills.

Repair campaigns brought together local tailors, cobblers and repair professionals, encouraging residents to repair everyday items instead of discarding them. These initiatives not only reduced waste generation but also supported local livelihoods and promoted the principles of the circular economy.

The project also organised RRR Maadi initiatives, thrift stalls, e-waste collection drives and bulk waste collection campaigns, ensuring that valuable materials such as electronic waste, books, clothes, mattresses, shoes and toys were diverted away from landfills and channelled towards responsible reuse and recycling.

By promoting repair, reuse and recycling, the project encouraged citizens to rethink consumption and embrace more sustainable lifestyles.

Promoting Sustainable Living:

Sustainability extends beyond waste management.

The NSA project conducted Sustainable Menstruation Sessions, creating safe spaces for women to discuss menstrual health while promoting reusable alternatives such as menstrual cups and cloth pads. Hundreds of women participated, resulting in significant adoption of sustainable menstrual products and helping reduce disposable sanitary waste.

Home composting workshops encouraged households to manage biodegradable waste within their own premises, reducing dependence on municipal collection while producing nutrient-rich compost for home gardens.

Clay Ganapathi workshops inspired families to celebrate festivals responsibly by creating eco-friendly idols, reducing the environmental impact associated with Plaster of Paris idols and chemical paints.

In addition, selected food outlets adopted reusable cutlery systems, reducing dependence on single-use plastics and demonstrating practical alternatives for businesses.

Cleaner Streets, Stronger Communities:

Visible transformation across the neighbourhood became one of the year's greatest achievements.

Through regular Cleanathon activities and community participation, eight major garbage vulnerable points across Adugodi were transformed into cleaner and more welcoming public spaces using wall paintings, awareness boards and beautification initiatives.

While maintaining these spaces continues to require ongoing community cooperation, these interventions demonstrated how collaborative action can improve neighbourhood aesthetics and encourage responsible waste disposal.

Supporting Frontline Waste Workers:

Behind every clean neighbourhood is the dedication of frontline sanitation workers.

Throughout the year, Pourakarmikas and waste collection staff participated in capacity-building programmes covering sustainable waste management, health, safety and environmental practices.

Health camps ensured access to basic medical assessments, while sports events and regular review meetings strengthened relationships between workers, contractors, government officials and project teams.

Continuous coordination with civic authorities also helped improve waste collection routes, strengthen operational efficiency and address challenges faced during daily collection activities.

The Power of Partnerships:

The progress achieved this year would not have been possible without strong collaboration.

Residents embraced segregation practices, volunteers dedicated their time to community outreach, government officials strengthened implementation, Bosch employees actively participated in awareness campaigns, and partner organisations worked together to build a more sustainable Adugodi.

These partnerships transformed environmental action into a shared community movement rather than an individual responsibility.

Our Impact in Numbers:

This year, the project achieved several important milestones:

• 10,023 households covered across the project area.

• 122 awareness activities conducted.

• 7,096 community participants engaged through awareness programmes and events.

• 13 repair campaigns promoting reuse and product life extension.

• 13 sustainable menstruation sessions encouraging environmentally friendly menstrual practices.

• 8 garbage vulnerable points transformed through beautification.

• 7 community WhatsApp groups established to improve coordination and communication.

• Thousands of kilograms of e-waste and bulky waste diverted towards responsible recycling and reuse through dedicated collection drives.

Veeraru

Creating a sustainable future begins by empowering the next generation with the knowledge, values, and confidence to care for the environment. Through the Green Education (Veeraru) programme, Let's Be The Change continued its mission of nurturing environmentally conscious young leaders who can inspire lasting change within their schools, families, and communities.

Supported by Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW), the programme transformed classrooms into spaces of experiential learning where students explored sustainability not just through lessons, but through practical activities, field visits, experiments, and leadership opportunities.

During the second year of the programme, two government schools in Adugodi became vibrant learning centres where students actively practised sustainable living while inspiring their peers and teachers to do the same.

Building Future Environmental Leaders:

The Veeraru programme was designed around one simple idea—children become the strongest ambassadors for change when they learn by doing.

Eco Clubs were established in Dairy Colony Government School and Police Quarters Government School, bringing together 43 Veeraru student leaders who participated throughout the year. These students became environmental champions within their schools, encouraging their classmates to adopt responsible habits related to waste, water, energy, and sustainable living.

Rather than relying on conventional classroom teaching, the programme adopted an experiential learning model where every lesson encouraged observation, discussion, creativity, and action.

Learning Beyond the Classroom:

The Veeraru curriculum introduced students to sustainability through four interconnected learning themes.

Students explored low-waste lifestyles, understanding how daily choices influence waste generation and learning practical ways to reduce, reuse, and rethink consumption.

Sessions on water and energy conservation encouraged responsible use of natural resources while introducing practical solutions such as rainwater harvesting and energy-saving practices.

Through kitchen gardening, students developed an appreciation for food systems, composting, and urban farming.

The programme also promoted healthy living for people and the planet, encouraging environmentally responsible choices that benefit both individuals and communities.

Interactive learning tools, educational games, and practical demonstrations ensured that students actively participated in every session, making sustainability engaging and enjoyable.

Learning Through Experience:

One of the programme's greatest strengths was its emphasis on hands-on learning.

Students participated in interactive waste segregation games, decomposition experiments, greenwashing awareness demonstrations, rainwater harvesting activities, and scientific observations that transformed theoretical concepts into practical understanding.

Experimental learning activities enabled students to observe the decomposition of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, helping them understand environmental processes through direct experience rather than textbooks.

Through these activities, students not only improved their understanding of sustainability concepts but also gained the confidence to explain them to others.

Exploring Real-World Sustainability:

To help students understand how waste is managed beyond their schools, the programme organised exposure visits to key waste management facilities.

Students visited the Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC), where they observed how recyclable materials are sorted and processed.

Visits to a Biomethanisation Plant introduced them to the scientific process of converting biodegradable waste into renewable energy.

Students also explored the Swachha Graha Kalika Kendra, where they gained practical insights into sustainable waste management systems and circular economy practices.

These visits helped students connect classroom learning with real-world environmental solutions and inspired them to become advocates for responsible waste management.

Creating Greener School Campuses:

Environmental learning extended beyond classrooms into school campuses.

Both schools established on-campus composting systems, allowing students to manage biodegradable waste generated within their schools. These composting units became living laboratories where students could observe the transformation of food waste into valuable compost.

The programme also encouraged schools to adopt greener practices related to waste management, water conservation, and resource efficiency, laying the foundation for long-term Green Campus initiatives.

Celebrating Sustainability Through Creativity:

Throughout the year, students expressed their learning through creativity, innovation, and teamwork.

Clay Ganapathi workshops encouraged students to celebrate festivals sustainably by making eco-friendly idols instead of using Plaster of Paris alternatives. Many students proudly chose to use their handmade idols during the festival, demonstrating how environmental education can influence everyday decisions.

Children also participated in drawing competitions, waste-to-wealth model making, awareness games, demonstrations, drama, songs, and interactive exhibitions that made sustainability both educational and enjoyable.

Sustainability Fest – A Celebration of Learning:

The highlight of the year was the Sustainability Fest, where students showcased everything they had learned throughout the programme.

Students organised exhibitions, demonstrated composting techniques, explained waste segregation through games, presented charts and models, performed songs and street plays, and shared their environmental journey with teachers, parents, and fellow students.

At Police Quarters Government School, the event also included a repair campaign, basic stitching workshops, and the installation of a composting unit, further reinforcing the principles of repair, reuse, and responsible resource management.

The festival concluded with certificates, medals, and appreciation for every Veeraru student, recognising their commitment to creating a greener future.

Creating Lasting Behaviour Change:

The impact of the programme extended beyond environmental knowledge.

Students became confident in explaining sustainability concepts, correcting common misconceptions, and encouraging environmentally responsible behaviour among their families and teachers.

One particularly inspiring moment occurred when students reminded a teacher not to use disposable paper cups during a school event, demonstrating how classroom learning had translated into everyday action. Another student developed a lasting bond with a sanitation worker after an empathy-building assignment, gaining a deeper appreciation for the people who keep communities clean.

These experiences reflected the true success of the programme—not just increasing knowledge, but nurturing empathy, leadership, confidence, and responsibility.

Our Impact in Numbers:

The Green Education programme achieved several important milestones during the year:

• 2 Government Schools adopted under the programme.

• 43 Veeraru student leaders actively engaged.

• 40 learning sessions conducted across both schools.

• Eco Clubs established in both schools.

• 3 of 4 core sustainability modules successfully completed.

• Composting systems installed in both schools.

• Exposure visits organised to major waste management facilities.

• Sustainability Fest conducted in both schools to celebrate student learning.

• Significant improvement in sustainability awareness, with assessment scores increasing from 24.25 to 35.86 in Dairy Colony Government School and from 20.72 to 31.88 in Police Quarters Government School.

Project Repurpose 2.0

LBTC in partnership with OSB India, we successfully launched Project Repurpose 2.0, marking a renewed commitment to sustainable waste management and circular economy practices.

The initiative commenced in October, with collection drives organized every alternate Sunday. Over the course of the reporting period, a total of 16 drives were conducted, demonstrating consistent engagement and operational efficiency.

Through these efforts, we successfully collected bulky waste, significantly contributing to waste diversion and resource recovery. The drives focused on responsible disposal and channeling materials toward textile upcycling and reuse initiatives, reducing environmental impact.

This phase of the project also strengthened corporate collaboration and community participation, setting a strong foundation for scalable and sustainable waste management solutions.

Overall, Project Repurpose 2.0 has emerged as a high-impact initiative, combining environmental responsibility with collaborative action, and paving the way for expanded outreach and innovation in the coming year.

#	Location	Date	Total waste collected in kgs	Total Participants at drop off	Total Participants for SWM game stall	Total participants for upcycled products buying
1	Koramangala	12-10-2025	488.20	36	2	7
2	Horamavu	26-10-2025	349.90	21	10	5
3	Hoodi	09-11-2025	527.90	31	19	9
4	Hennur /Banaswadi	23-11-2025	655.05	26	11	6
5	Frazer Town	14-12-2025	310.38	18	15	2
6	KR Puram /TC Palya	21-12-2025	837.75	24	25	3
7	R T Nagar	4-1-2026	2,003.20	48	35	7
8	BTM Layout	18-1-2026	831.50	26	5	3
9	SmondovillaApartment,E City	11th Jan2026 to26th Jan2026	1,136.80	800	0	0
10	ProgressSoftwareDevelopment PrivateLimited	12th Jan2026 to6th Jan2026	165.30	30	0	0
11	R R Nagar	08-02-2026	836.53	56	14	1
12	Shanthi Nagar	22-02-2026	2,381.47	62	14	6
13	Bannerghatta	01-03-2026	130.75	13	23	7
14	Rest HouseRoad	07-03-2026	1,017.93	36	13	5
15	Bellandur	14-03-2026	942.00	53	50	6
16	Mavalli	29-03-2026	243.44	7	3	3
Total			12,858.10	1,287	239	70

Namma Swaccha Madiwala

Happiest Minds, concerned about persistent cleanliness challenges in the Madiwala Market region, approached Let’s Be The Change (LBTC) seeking a structured and sustainable waste-management solution under their CSR initiative. In response, LBTC launched “Namma Swaccha Madiwala,” a 6-month pilot programme focused on transforming waste handling practices in the area.

This month, we also conducted a vendor survey to better understand on-ground challenges and concerns. The programme emphasized waste segregation, recycling, and collective responsibility—values that LBTC continues to actively promote on the ground.

Erudition Time:

Starting April 1, the Solid Waste Management (SWM) initiative will be formally implemented to strengthen waste segregation, streamline collection systems, and improve overall cleanliness in the community. The initiative will focus on proper bin placement, monitoring segregation at source, awareness among vendors and residents, and structured tracking of waste movement.

This marks a significant step towards building a more accountable and sustainable waste management system, ensuring long-term environmental impact and community participation.

Which type of waste is human nail ?

• Wet waste
• Reject Waste
• Dry waste