Prayog

A three-phase program focused on community engagement, leadership development, and technical upskilling using participatory methods.

The PRIDE Cooperative was formed with 100 members, 150+ workers accessed social protection, and over 1,000 waste pickers were surveyed – strengthening long-term economic resilience.

Using an Inform – Empower – Engage model, the program built capacities and supported waste-based enterprises. Demonstration models such as e-waste collection and RRR centres were established.

Over 220 participants were empowered, ID cards issued, and an RRR centre in Rajgurunagar now diverts 1.5 MT of waste monthly. The program strengthened livelihoods and decentralised waste solutions.

Semester-long interactive learning included waste audits, segregation and composting workshops, dashboards, and community drives. Students, teachers, and parents were actively involved.

Across 27 schools, open dumping and burning were eliminated, 243 kg of plastic was recycled, and over 27,000 community members were influenced. Students emerged as sustainability champions driving long-term change.

A baseline study informed daily door-to-door IEC and BCC activities, community events, and school engagement. Recycling corners, RRR centres, and cohort-specific messaging were used to sustain participation.

Segregation levels increased from 40% to 75%, 14 women gained livelihoods, and over 2,000 households and 25 schools actively participated. The project created long-term community ownership of waste practices.

Kushaagra conducted surveys and community engagement across cities to identify waste pickers and understand their challenges. Awareness was built around dignity of labour, safety, and formalisation. Support was provided for Aabha and e-Shram enrolments.

Over 2,300 waste pickers were surveyed across 70 cities, and 100+ individuals secured social welfare enrolments. The initiative strengthened trust, recognition, and pathways toward formal livelihoods.

One-day entrepreneurship workshops were conducted using local-language training material across multiple cities. Participants were introduced to six waste-based business models, including composting, plastic processing, RRR centres, and textile waste management. Sessions blended awareness, skill-building, and business orientation.

Over 15,000 participants were empowered, with more than 3,000 women expressing interest in pursuing waste-based enterprises. The program expanded livelihood pathways while strengthening community-level waste reduction and circular economy adoption.

The project engaged teachers and students across 4,321 schools in Maharashtra through interactive IEC sessions using games, play cards, and songs. These activities simplified concepts of waste segregation, recycling, and composting, making learning engaging and relatable. 

To date, the project has been implemented in over 2,000 schools, reaching more than 5 lakh students. Students and teachers demonstrated improved understanding and practical application of sustainable waste management practices. This shift supported long-term behavior change and strengthened climate-friendly habits at the grassroots level.

Establish a structured cooperative for informal sector waste pickers. Build the waste pickers’ capacity to become effective members of the Cooperatives.
Improve working conditions and facilitate access to social welfare schemes. Provide income increase opportunities through better working conditions.
Promote social inclusion to uplift marginalized communities.

By equipping waste pickers with tools, training, and social skills, this initiative fosters sustainable waste management practices, promoting resource efficiency and circular economy principles. This effort aligns with SDG 13 (Climate Action) by reducing waste-related emissions and advancing climate resilience, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by encouraging inclusive, sustainable urban waste systems. Additionally, it supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating livelihood opportunities, improving working conditions, and promoting dignified, productive employment for waste pickers, ensuring they are integrated into the formal economy.

Undertake Waste quantification & composition study and mass flow analysis for Mumbai city for two season (Pre and during monsoon) The specific objectives were: • To determine the quantity of waste collected from each ward
• To determine the composition of waste collected from different generators
• To conduct the mass flow analysis for Mumbai city for two seasons (pre-monsoon season during April-May; and during the monsoon season during July –August)
• To identify opportunities for targeted interventions to divert waste from landfill

This initiative supports SDG 13 (Climate Action) by providing data-driven insights to reduce methane emissions from organic waste. It aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by enabling targeted interventions to improve waste management and landfill diversion. Additionally, it contributes to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating opportunities for waste workers in circular economy solutions.

Undertake Waste quantification & composition study and mass flow analysis for Ahmedabad city for two season (Pre and Post monsoon)