People with Disabilities Lead India's Recycling Revolution
Empowering Through Recycling
India, the world’s most populous nation, faces a growing plastic waste problem. One group, however, is working to turn “trash into cash” while helping people with disabilities. At a workshop near New Delhi, Ram Babu, a 28-year-old amputee, transforms a discarded cigarette packet into a papier-mâché candle.
Overcoming Challenges, Finding Purpose
Babu lost his right hand and leg in a train accident in 2005. Life seemed hopeless, but the Avacayam employment program, run by the Society for Child Development, changed everything. “It feels good to work despite my challenges,” Babu said, as he crafted a new creation. He now earns ₹10,000 a month and has found a new sense of purpose.
Avacayam: Gathering Hope
The name “Avacayam” comes from Sanskrit, meaning “gathering flowers.” Participants in the program turn discarded items like temple flowers and fallen idols of Hindu gods into incense sticks and sacred powder used in rituals. The initiative also repurposes plastic bottles and other waste into decorative items, bags, and craft products.
Tackling India’s Waste Crisis
India generates over 65 million tons of waste each year, according to The Energy and Resources Institute. Only a fraction of this is processed, leaving towering piles of rubbish, especially around New Delhi. A recent study even named India as the largest plastic polluter, responsible for nearly one-fifth of global emissions.
Setting an Example for Change
The founder of the Society for Child Development, Madhumita Puri, says they aim to lead by example. “We collect waste from offices, homes, and factories, and recycle them into beautiful items,” she explains. Beyond environmental impact, the work gives people with disabilities the dignity of self-sufficiency.
Finding Hope Through Craft
Abdul Sheikh, who was born with polio and struggled to find work, also found new hope through Avacayam. “I learned that we should never lose hope, no matter the adversity,” said Sheikh, now 30, who crafts decorative papier-mâché items. “I don’t have legs, but today I’m standing on my own two feet.”
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