November 2025

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

 

A Heritage School Restored

Strength in Collaboration: Domlur School Inaugurated for a Brighter Tomorrow.

Domlur Government School Transformation - Arrow Electronics:

Once a crumbling pre-independence structure, the Domlur Primary Model School, built in 1938, has now been transformed into a safe, vibrant, and sustainable learning environment. This remarkable revival was led by Arrow Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. under their CSR initiative, implemented by Let’s Be The Change (LBTC) and Sankriya Charitable Trust, with the support of the Block Education Office (BEO) and the Hon'ble MLA Sri N. A. Haris.

Adopted for a three-year transformation journey (2023–2026), the project focuses on restoring the school’s physical infrastructure while enhancing the learning ecosystem for its students.

Phase 1: Restoring the Heritage Block (July 2023 – July 2024)

The first phase concentrated on reviving the structurally sound section of the heritage building. Key improvements included:

• Roof waterproofing

• Replacement of broken windows and repainting of grills

• Educational murals in classrooms

• Complete exterior and interior repainting

To strengthen safety and security, the project also delivered:

• A raised compound wall

• A new main gate and CCTV cameras

• Appointment of security and helper staff for three years

Additionally, a computer lab was set up by installing four new systems and repairing existing ones, ensuring students gain access to essential digital learning tools.

Phase 2: Building New Foundations (August 2024 – March 2026)

The second phase involved demolishing the dilapidated portion of the old structure and reconstructing it to create a modern, student-friendly block featuring:

• Five new classrooms

• One staff room

• Each classroom furnished with a teacher’s table, storage cupboard, and essential amenities

  
  

In alignment with LBTC’s vision of building Green Schools, dustbins and a composting unit were installed to promote waste segregation and environmental responsibility among children.

This initiative is a powerful example of how corporate support, community engagement, and government leadership can come together to preserve heritage while empowering future generations.

The newly revitalized Domlur Primary Model School was officially inaugurated on November 18, 2025, marking the beginning of a new chapter — one that blends history, sustainability, and opportunity for the children of Bengaluru.

Project Repurpose 2.0

We, in partnership with OSB India, officially launched Project Repurpose 2.0 . The drive marked the beginning of a renewed collaboration focused on sustainable waste management, textile upcycling, and corporate engagement.

During our drive, we engaged with children to help them understand that recycling should be the last step in waste management. We encouraged them to first explore reuse and repurposing, highlighting how everyday items can find a second life with a little creativity.

Nearby labourers also approached us, noticing some materials they thought were being discarded. They expressed interest in taking a few items they felt could be useful to them. This simple interaction reinforced an important message: what we view as waste can hold value for someone else. Moments like these highlight the power of awareness and community connection in building a more sustainable, mindful society.

Here is the updated table with the combined details for both events — clearly stating that all old clothes and the listed materials were collected to prevent piling up at home and instead donated for upcycling and repurposing:

Category	1st Repurpose Drive	2nd Repurpose Drive
Location	Mahadevpura, Hoodi	Sarvagnanagar
Date	9th November 2025	23rd November 2025
Drop-Off Contributions	48 residents	25+ participants
Total waste  collected	528kg	655kg

SWM Capacity-Building Sessions

Over the past month, Let’s Be The Change (LBTC) had the privilege of leading a series of intensive, full-day capacity-building sessions for Community Mobilizers and Urban Local Body (ULB) officials across Karnataka. Each workshop was designed to strengthen on-ground waste management systems, build behavioural-change capabilities, and enhance operational planning at the municipal level.

📍 11th November – Koppal District

We conducted a hands-on workshop for Community Mobilizers representing seven ULBs, covering:

• Core principles of solid waste management

• Designing effective IEC (Information, Education & Communication) campaigns

• Behaviour-change frameworks

• Systems for monitoring and progress tracking

  

  

  

📍 13th November – Mysuru District (Kushalnagar Municipality)

LBTC facilitated a Circular Economy Workshop for engineers and health officers, including EEs, AEEs, AEs, JEs, Senior & Junior Health Inspectors, and Community Mobilizers.The session focused on building a systems-level understanding of waste, resources, and circularity, enabling officials to approach municipal operations through a sustainability lens.

📍 15th November – Mangaluru District & BWSSB Suvarna Bhavana, Bengaluru

Two parallel sessions were delivered:

• Mangaluru Municipality: Capacity-building for officials across the district on waste management systems and best practices.

• BWSSB Suvarna Bhavana (Bengaluru): A dedicated session on IEC and staff capacity building, strengthening communication and citizen engagement strategies.

📍 27th November – Bengaluru

We concluded the month with another full-day, hands-on training for newly appointed Community Mobilizers from various ULBs. The workshop reinforced operational planning, waste management workflows, and community engagement techniques essential for effective field execution.

What Made These Sessions Stand Out?

Participants weren’t passive attendees — they were practitioners in action.

Through real-time worksheets and practical exercises, they learned to:

• Estimate daily waste generation

• Strategically plan daily waste operations

• Identify relevant KPIs and assess system performance

• Track progress and measure real-world impact

This immersive approach allowed officials to grasp the nuances of decentralized waste systems and build confidence to implement solutions in their respective cities and towns.

Acknowledgements

Our sincere gratitude to:

• Directorate of Municipal Administration

• Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)

• Urban Development Department

• Environmental Management & Policy Research Institute (EMPRI)

for trusting LBTC to train 300+ officials across Karnataka. We are honoured to support ULBs in strengthening decentralized waste management, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering meaningful citizen engagement.

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.

Planning & Groundwork Phase

The month of November served as the planning and strategy-development phase, during which LBTC carried out extensive field studies and stakeholder engagement. Key activities included:

• Comprehensive Area Assessment: Multiple reconnaissance visits were conducted to understand waste hotspots, vendor practices, movement patterns, and daily waste generation. Based on these findings, LBTC drafted a customised action plan for the pilot.

• Engagement with Flower Vendors: A dedicated meeting was held with the flower vendors, where it was identified that no segregation practices were in place. This gap was contributing significantly to waste accumulation and sanitation concerns. The team introduced the necessity and benefits of source segregation and prepared a vendor-specific strategy for implementation.

• Designing Waste Flow & Operational Plan: LBTC mapped out the waste flow for the entire stretch, outlining systems for collection, segregation, transportation, and monitoring. These plans form the operational backbone of the pilot programme to be rolled out in the following months.

SummitUp-25

We were delighted to share that our Founder, Anirudh S Dutt was invited to join SummitUp 2025 as one of NSRCEL’s distinguished Spotlight Founders. This recognition reflected his inspiring entrepreneurial journey and the impact he had created within the NSRCEL ecosystem.

As part of the event, Anirudh delivered a TEDx-style talk for 15 mins, where he highlighted:

• The vision behind his venture and the core problem it addressed

• Key milestones and achievements along the journey

• The significant role played by NSRCEL’s incubation support in shaping the growth of his venture

  
  

His talk contributed to a special segment celebrating the remarkable founder stories that shaped NSRCEL over the past 25 years.

Interaction with Dignitaries

In honour of NSRCEL’s 25-year milestone, the event hosted several early well-wishers and dignitaries — including Mr. N. S. Raghavan. Anirudh was part of this exclusive gathering, where he engaged with key contributors to NSRCEL’s legacy and shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey.

Plogrun

On 21st November, Let’s Be The Change (LBTC) partnered with Sony to conduct an impactful Plog Run around the surroundings of their Bellandur campus. The initiative brought together 25+ enthusiastic participants, all committed to creating a cleaner and healthier neighbourhood.

Over the course of the run, the team successfully collected more than 40 kg of waste, highlighting both the scale of urban littering and the power of collective action. Participants jogged through the nearby streets and open areas, picking up litter along the way and engaging with the community on the importance of keeping shared spaces clean.

This Plog Run not only contributed to a cleaner environment but also helped spread awareness on responsible waste disposal and the importance of maintaining public spaces.

Namma Swachha Adugodi (NSA) 

Under the Namma Swachha Adugodi (NSA) initiative, Let’s Be The Change and Saahas continued working towards building stronger, cleaner, and more responsible communities through a blend of awareness sessions, on-ground action, and behaviour change programs across the Adugodi area.

This month’s key activities included:

• Interactive Session for Children

  On 7th November, a fun and engaging learning session was organized for children in Rajendra Nagar.A total of 56 enthusiastic kids, mostly toddlers, participated with great excitement. Community members ensured a safe space by managing the play area and diverting vehicles as needed.

  The session was lively and educational—children and parents enjoyed interactive games while learning about waste segregation beyond just dry and wet waste, helping build early habits for a cleaner future.

  

  

  

• Repair Campaign 

  To promote the message “Don’t discard—repair and reuse,” two repair drives were conducted this month focusing on tailoring, knife sharpening, and bicycle repair services.

  • 9th November – Police Quarters:An overwhelming 286 residents brought their household items for repair.

  • 16th November – Rajendra Nagar:A combined Repair + Thrift Store event witnessed 70+ participants.

  These campaigns reinforced circular economy principles, demonstrating how simple actions like repairing items can significantly reduce waste.

  

  

  

• Menstrual Hygiene Sessions

  On 22nd November, a dedicated menstrual hygiene session was conducted in Adugodi to promote the safe and sustainable usage of menstrual cups.

  A total of 70 women attended the session, showing strong interest. A WhatsApp support group has been created to address their queries and assist first-time users on their journey toward adopting healthier, eco-friendly menstrual practices.

  
  

• Cleanathon

  A stubborn 40-metre blackspot in the community had long been a concern, with waste accumulating due to irregular disposal timings and spillover litter from an adjacent lane.

  During this month’s Cleanathon, our team took on the challenge of restoring this neglected stretch. The area contained broken glass, hazardous debris, and heavy litter. After nearly 10 hours of continuous work, the spot was completely cleaned and transformed.

  Residents expressed great relief and happiness at seeing their neighbourhood restored. To ensure lasting impact, loudspeaker announcements were made encouraging residents to follow proper waste-disposal practices and take collective responsibility for maintaining clean shared spaces.

  This Cleanathon significantly improved the area’s hygiene and strengthened community ownership.

  

  

  

• Plogrun with Bosch Employees

  On 15th November, we organized a Plogrun in Rajendra Nagar with enthusiastic participation from Bosch employees. Over the course of one hour, the team collected around 35 kg of waste, contributing to a cleaner neighbourhood.

  Couple of employees who had joined previous plogging activities in the same area observed that the community’s cleanliness had improved compared to earlier visits. Their feedback is a strong indicator that our ongoing efforts are making a meaningful impact.

  

  

  

• Stakeholder Meeting

  On 22nd November, a multi-stakeholder meeting brought together shopkeepers, BBMP officials, and local residents to discuss on-ground challenges and co-create solutions. Supported by Bosch, the meeting included an interactive workshop that encouraged participants to identify issues and propose practical actions.

  The session saw active participation from 30+ attendees representing 9 out of 13 blocks, helping build a shared understanding of community needs and fostering stronger collaboration.

  

  

  

• Bosch CSR Team Field Visit

  On 17th November, the Bosch CSR team—Alphonse Immanuel, Azariah Johnson, Bezaleel Mouli, and Sabnani Niraj—visited all NSA project blocks to observe on-ground efforts. They interacted with residents, reviewed project progress, and shared valuable recommendations to enhance implementation.

  Their appreciation and insights reaffirmed the positive impact of the initiative and opened avenues for deeper collaboration.

  

  

  

• Waste Audit - A continued detailed waste audit was carried out to assess the quality of segregation and identify gaps in collection practices.

  

  

  
  

Veeraru

After a long hiatus, we returned to the school both Dairy Colony and Police Quarters Government school, this month to re-engage students with hands-on sustainability learning. We educated the children on key environmental topics, including:

• Upcycling a T-shirt into a reusable bag to show how everyday items can be repurposed

• Understanding the 7 types of plastic and the importance of reducing and responsibly managing plastic waste

• To understand littering in a better way we organized plogrun in the school campus itself.

• Using harvested compost—created through the school’s own waste—to nourish trees on campus

  
  

These activities not only refreshed students’ understanding of sustainable practices but also helped them see the tangible impact of their efforts through composting and greening. It was a meaningful return filled with learning, creativity, and environmental action.

Erudition Time:

BBMP VS GBA

Bengaluru’s governance system is changing. Earlier, the BBMP handled most city services like waste management, roads, and maintenance. Now, with the creation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), many key responsibilities are being brought under one umbrella to make city management smoother.

Under the GBA framework, Bengaluru would not remain a single municipal corporation. Instead, it would be split into multiple municipal corporations, each with its own mayor and administrative machinery, all reporting to the Greater Bengaluru Authority at the top.

The city would be reorganized into five regional municipal corporations, such as:

1. Bengaluru East Corporation

2. Bengaluru West Corporation

3. Bengaluru South Corporation

4. Bengaluru North Corporation

5. Bengaluru Central Corporation

In simple terms, BBMP managed the day-to-day needs, while GBA is being set up to manage the city’s overall development and future, ensuring faster decisions, fewer delays, and better coordination.

This new system is meant to make Bengaluru cleaner, greener, and easier to manage for everyone.

What do you expect from the new GBA system?

• Better long-term planning
• Faster execution of works
• Less confusion between departments
• More transparency & accountability