Two neighbours – Geeta Shankar and Padma Venkatraman – who have green thumbs started an initiative at Shanti Gulmohar Apartments in Mandaveli, primarily to source organic manure for their plants.
“We collected our leftover fruit and vegetable peals and had them deposited in a pit created at the corner of our flat,” says Geeta Shankar.
The small initiative has had a cascading effect with many others in the complex taking up source segregation. Proof of this is the second pit that has come up at the complex. “One of the first things we did was start a Whatsapp group where we asked members to segregate waste,” says Padma.
The nine-storey apartment has 52 flats. Residents in 17 of these flats actively participate in every initiative taken up by the Association. The Association has provided bins for the purpose. The manure from the compost pits is used to grow plants in the common areas of the apartment. Coconuts, mangoes, bananas and, of late, brinjals coming from the common garden are shared.
“We have a good number of Koreans living here. Language has been a barrier to connecting with them, and we want them to get on board too,” says Padma.
