Self-reliance & resilience in slum women's groups

Indian cities are growing with modern buildings, infrastructure for the wealthier residents. The urban poor living largely in slums are most vulnerable to climate change. For sustainability and mitigating climate change effect and towards inclusiveness envisaged in Sustainable Development Goals, greening of slums is essential.

UHRC team motivated slum communities to plant trees. We provided saplings to slum families. Children and women were most enthused and managed to grow saplings in the small spaces in their neighbourhoods such as the backyard of their houses and tended them with care.

Small trees have sprouted in slums which is essential for a) reducing carbon dioxide: b) reducing ambient temperatures; c) providing a feeling of well-being and satisfaction among slum families.

A street play on segregation of wet and dry waste at household level and in market place was performed by slum children, youth and UHRC team members at GirgaonChowpaty (beach) in Mumbai.

Messages:

1. Wet and dry waste should be segregated at the household itself. This enables its correct disposal and reduces piles of mixed waste.
2. Wet waste such as or kitchen waste from peeling, cutting of vegetables and other food waste can be used for composting and can turn into valuable manure.
3. Dry waste is mostly mixed waste including plastic. This needs proper disposal and further segregation to be appropriately managed at the waste management plant.
4. Slum youth emphasised the importance of responsibility of each citizen for proper disposal of waste to help move towards a cleaner environment.

Activities like these are instrumental in nurturing self-expression of slum youth and children as they overcome hesitation in expressing their ideas in public places. They also play a role in inculcating behaviour change among slum dwellers to segregate waste in their daily routine.