A statement by Jal Shakti Ministry informs, “The Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Energy and Development (MGIRED), in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, the Department of Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation, and the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), is training 18,000 rural women from Karnataka's SHGs (Self Help Groups) in various aspects such as solid waste management and solar energy utilisation in rural areas.”
These women will be trained by the local Gram Panchayats to perform solid waste management duties like daily waste collection, segregation, Swaccha Vahini driving, and more. “According to Mr Parameswar Hegde (Director ISA, RDWSD), the classroom training that will be offered in all 30 districts this fiscal year would benefit 18,000 rural women, providing them with an alternative source of income,” the statement explains.
This programme is not chargeable and offers travel and accommodation for three women from each Gram Panchayat in Karnataka. “SHG members will learn about renewable energy sources, solid waste management, different composting technologies for wet waste, the idea of biogas for managing biodegradable waste, and the importance of menstrual health and its management after the training. The trained members are expected to carry out duties like waste segregation, wet waste composting, and biogas unit management at their respective gram panchayats, which they learned during practical demonstrations,” the statement said.
Also Read: 5 Ways To Manage Waste After Diwali Celebrations
Image Credit: @downtoearth.org