Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the renowned founder of Biocon, has ignited a spirited call for action to make Bengaluru garbage-free. Sharing an inspiring video of Karnataka’s Vandse village on social media, she highlighted the village’s exemplary waste management model, which focuses on meticulous segregation and recycling. Urging the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to replicate such initiatives, she proposed a “Cleanest Ward” contest to inspire civic participation and drive local authorities to prioritise cleanliness.
In her appeal, Mazumdar-Shaw described Vandse as a role model for sustainable urban practices. Bengaluru, plagued by mounting landfills and inefficient waste disposal systems, stands to benefit significantly from such a ward-by-ward initiative. Residents and commentators responded with enthusiasm, suggesting innovative measures like dividing the city’s wards into sub-wards, empowering elected committees to handle waste segregation, water conservation, and park maintenance. These ideas aim to decentralise responsibilities and enhance accountability, laying the groundwork for a cleaner and greener city.
Sustainability remains a cornerstone of Mazumdar-Shaw’s vision. Bengaluru generates over 4,000 tonnes of waste daily, much of which remains unsegregated, leading to unsustainable landfills. Adopting unit-level segregation and implementing localised waste management practices could drastically reduce environmental impact. Lessons from Vandse and similar models stress the importance of community-driven solutions, promoting environmental stewardship while addressing the urban waste crisis.
However, challenges loom large. Critics cited the entrenched “garbage mafia” and systemic inefficiencies as barriers to progress. Despite these concerns, Mazumdar-Shaw’s advocacy underscores the urgent need for innovative civic interventions. Encouraging collective efforts through contests like “Cleanest Office” or “Cleanest Road” could galvanise communities, fostering a sense of pride and responsibility towards their surroundings. Her call for a cleaner Bengaluru resonates with the city’s aspirations to transform into a truly sustainable urban hub
