Rnisarg Foundation, an NGO founded by doctors in 2016, is working in the space of building sustainable cities through citizen participation. In the last decade of our work in providing sustainable solutions for waste management and road safety, we have been able to make some impactful achievements. Our core competency lies in identifying the grassroots-level challenges and involving all the stakeholders in participating to achieve the desired results. Our mission is to build Sustainable Cities and bring the joy of living to every being.
Impact
Sakhi—Menstrual health, hygiene, and sustainable menstrual practices: Through our Project Sakhi, we have helped make 500 ASHA workers menstrual educators (Sakhi Trainers), and educated 20,000-plus women from urban slums and adivasi areas on menstrual health, hygiene, and sustainable menstrual practices. We have donated 16,000 menstrual cups, with a 70% conversion rate, reducing 20 tons of menstrual waste per year and thus preventing environmental pollution and health risk related to disposal of sanitary pads. The project has also generated livelihood for Sakhi Trainers.
Green Pharmacy—Safe collection and disposal of household pharmaceutical waste (expired/unwanted/damaged): Through our project, Green Pharmacy, we have educated 20,000-plus households on safe consumption of medicine. There are 26 Green Pharmacy bin locations in Thane City. We have diverted 2,000 kg of household pharmaceutical waste from going into the landfill and have disposed of it safely. Active pharmaceutical ingredients were sent for incineration and packaging waste for recycling and co-processing.
Prarambh—A location solution for a global problem: 35 schools have participated in our Prarambh programme. We have educated 150,000 students (direct impact) and 600,000 citizens (indirect impact, considering an average family has four members) on waste management and road safety.
Follow the Monkey—A pilot project on 3-level waste segregation for Thane City: Through this, we have made 5,000 households aware about 3-level waste segregation and waste management and facilitated proper end disposal for each type of waste.
Impact
Pre-project:
Mixed waste: 5 tons/day waste dumped
Post project:
Wet waste: 2.5 tons/day (composting)
Dry waste: 2.4 tons/day (recycling)
Sanitary waste: 75 kg/day (incineration)
The success of Rnisarg Foundation, which is dedicated to environmental sustainability, healthcare, and waste management, owes much to the unwavering support of our mentor Mr. Amit Bhargava and the resources offered by the PIC Social Innovation Lab (SI Lab). This collaborative guidance empowered our foundation to amplify its impact and bring innovative solutions to pressing issues.
Our mentor provided strategic vision and clarity, helping us navigate challenges with confidence. His guidance in refining our goals, prioritising initiatives, and developing actionable strategies has been pivotal to our success. Additionally, the encouragement to embrace bold ideas and maintain unwavering commitment to our mission inspired us to think creatively and act decisively.
The Social Innovation Lab played a crucial role in transforming Rnisarg Foundation’s ideas into actionable projects. SI Lab offered unique resources, including workshops, networking opportunities, and expert mentorship. The Lab’s support in areas like design thinking, project management, and sustainability metrics enabled us to achieve high-impact outcomes efficiently.
Moreover, SI Lab provided us with platforms to showcase our work, fostering partnerships and collaborations. Through access to funding opportunities and stakeholder engagement, we expanded our reach, increased community participation, and scaled up our initiatives. The structured approach offered by the Lab helped us implement similar programmes in other regions.
About the Author
Dr Lata Ghanshamnani is the co-founder of RNisarg Foundation and a practising Ophthalmology doctor. RNisarg Foundation was the finalist of the 10th National Conference on Social Innovation 2022 and was part of the SI Lab Mentorship Program (SEMP) cohort of 2023