With the third IHS event in Colombo in July hitting it big, Clean India Journal has really gone global. The event garnered international attention and the Journal’s effort in association with the members of the Asian Housekeepers Association to raise the bar in the realm of hospitality housekeeping has gained momentum. The wide pictorial coverage of the two day event will make an informative read.
Along with the regular technical articles and product information, we have in this issue a unique essay by an independent traveller from Gurgaon, Rajini Bala, who got a “shock” while visiting in Indore and Bhopal. Shock, not because the cities were dirty, but because they were too clean beyond expectations. Read the article for its straightforward reporting style. We want more of our readers to share their experiences in relation to cleanliness and sanitation in and around them or during their travel.
Coming back to Indore and Bhopal, the former retained its title for being India’s cleanest city in the Swachh Surveksan survey and the later coming second. One of the Now follow us on https://www.facebook.com/CleanIndia Now follow us on https://twitter.com/CleanIndiaJourn/ EDITORIAL primary reasons that helped Indore to retain its top position is because the city opted for a decentralised waste management system and showed “significant improvement” in segregating the waste at source. With nearly 10,000 employees and officers to foster cleanliness as a habit, the Indore Municipal Corporation devised innovative bottle-shaped dustbins to encourage vehicle owners to not throw waste out the window. Another initiative was employing of over 1,000 ragpickers who were positioned outside hotels, and marriage halls and would make compost from organic waste.
According to the 2017 FICCI report on waste management, around 62 million tons of solid waste is produced in India every year. Of this, only 43 million tons is collected, only 12 million tons is treated; and the rest is dumped. The report highlights that this number is expected to rise to 436 million tons by 2050. The survey also reveals that the untapped waste management market is expected to be worth $13.62 billion by 2025, with an annual growth rate of 7.17 percent.
Understandably, the Waste Technology India Expo at the Clean India Technology Week to be held in Bangalore in February 2019 will give added focus on waste management and recycling both in terms of equipment and technology. The vision is to make all our cities devoid of litter and unclean conditions.
Months back, I had read an interesting report about a woman Amina Khatoon, a resident of Pathra Uttar village in flood-prone Koshi region, who begged in the neighbouring villages to collect the money for constructing a toilet. Moved by her commitment, a mason, and a labourer, who worked for her, refused to take their wages. A rare effort that drew applause.
Mangala Chandran
editor@virtualinfo.in
