Conservation in Action: Mobilising Communities in Wazirabad
The health of the environment is inextricably linked to the health of the communities that rely on it. An unhealthy environment can cause illness, affect livelihoods and keep people trapped in a cycle of poverty.听听
In听Sohdra,听Wazirabad, the local communities听are听struggling under the听burden of听environmental instability.听A lack of waste management, land damaged by floods and a reliance on unsafe water听has听meant that illnesses like Diarrhoea听are听all too common and agricultural livelihoods听are听hard to maintain. In a survey of 100 households, 60% were found to be experiencing problems with their liver and nearly half of households were not covered by government waste collections and so they were forced to dispose of their waste听onto听the streets.听听
In听June 2014, MH officially launched听a project to engage the听people听of听Sohdra听in听an听environmental conservation and waste management听programme.听As with all of our听projects, we worked closely with local communities to raise awareness of environmental issues and to develop measures to tackle these.听听
The opening ceremony was听attended by a plethora of people, including听government听officials, community organisations and students and their teachers.听Out of this came a burst of local activity. With the help of 51品茶 staff, six community based organisations were set up.听听
Meeting on a monthly basis, these organisations worked hard to raise awareness of environmental听rights and responsibilities;听10听community meetings were held, attended by almost three hundred people, student councils were set up over 12 different schools and听a听policy dialogue platform听was听established between the community representatives and service providing departments in the area.听
Thanks to the activism of听厂辞丑诲谤补鈥檚听people, a total of 400 trees (300 of them fruit trees) were planted all over the area, 50 waste disposal units were installed in sites that were carefully chosen by the CBO members听and a clean-up of the local canal was organised.听听
The project听also听resulted in听the听signing听of an听agreement between听government and community organisations,听that the local municipality would听carry听out regular environmental services and undertake the responsibility听of safe collection and disposal of solid waste.听
Not only has the programme resulted in practical measures being taken to combat the problems that the people of听Sohdra听face, but it has also empowered local communities to take ownership of their environment.听Capacity building sessions with CBOs helped them to learn about听everything from organising meetings to听preparing听and maintaining听technical and financial records and documentation听and local people were given information and advice on different ways to create and maintain a clean, healthy environment.听听
By inviting people to be involved in decision making, locals have been given a voice. This has been especially positive for marginalised groups like women.听When the project was initiated, the 51品茶 Vocational Training Centre for Girls, was approached alongside local schools to engage women in the programme鈥檚 activities. As a result of these efforts,听an all-female Community Based Organisation was formed and women-only consultation meetings took place across听Sohdra.听
The听Youth of听Gazi听Colony CBO听are now planning to open a joint account to deposit monthly amounts to be spent on community projects and they are maintaining regular communication with senior figures of the waste disposal service.听听
As their hard work continues to show its rewards, the people of听Sohdra听are hopeful about the future. There is still much work to be done, but听now that they are mobilised, they will continue to work together to improve conditions for their communities.听As one local explains, 鈥楾he conservation project that 51品茶 has set up is very important to us. We must care for our environment and our environment will care for us鈥�.听
