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From Waste to Worth: Ashish Agrawal’s Journey with Paryavaran Mitra and Bridge4Change

Interview Summary: Key Themes & Takeaways

1. Origins of Paryavaran Mitra

  • Started as a college competition idea at IRMA on waste management in Tier-2 cities.
  • Focused on rag-picking sisters as micro-entrepreneurs.
  • Connected with Gandhi Ashram’s Mano Sadhana NGO, which had long-term ties with slum communities.
  • Conducted 6–8 months of ground research revealing:
    • ₹7,000 crore waste industry in Ahmedabad.
    • Over 100 types of waste recycled.
    • Systemic exploitation of rag-pickers.

2. The Rag-Picking Reality

  • 30,000 women in Ahmedabad collect waste before dawn.
  • Each collects 15–20 kg/day → 6 lakh kg/day total.
  • Exploited by scrap shops: rigged measurements, underpayment.
  • Example: Should earn ₹200/day → actually gets ₹119–144.

3. Paryavaran Mitra’s Model

  • Goal: Empower women, not just manage waste.
  • Opened transparent scrap shops owned by sisters.
  • Provided fair pricing, safety gear, and profit-sharing.
  • Faced challenges: threats from local goons, police complaints, operational risks.

4. Community Engagement & Awareness

  • Waste Pilgrimage: Volunteers join rag-pickers at 4 AM → life-changing empathy.
  • School programs, waste drives, field trips.
  • Sisters visited schools to share their stories → built dignity and visibility.

5. Scaling with Ahmedabad Cantonment

  • Won tender for end-to-end waste management for 3,500 households.
  • 25 sisters formed a formal team:
    • Uniforms, ID cards, fixed timings (8 AM start).
    • Collected, segregated, composted, and sold waste.
  • Supported by UNDP and Coca-Cola’s EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) initiative.

6. Impact of Paryavaran Mitra

  • 7–8 centers in Ahmedabad slums.
  • Serves 6,700+ sisters daily.
  • Recycled 5 million kgs of waste.
  • Profit-sharing ceremonies held quarterly.
  • Cooperative model: sisters are owners; org is facilitator.

7. Shift to Bridge4Change

  • Founded after 7 years at Gandhi Ashram.
  • Insight: Gap between preaching and practice hinders social impact.
  • Project Manthan: 15-month research across farmers, IAS officers, academics, etc.
  • Found: Inner clutter and noise prevent youth from contributing to social causes.
  • New focus: Mindful consumption → declutter life → enable social action.

8. Bridge4Change Approach

  • Targets youth (17–25 years).
  • Uses mindful consumption as a tool for wellbeing and climate action.
  • Yes, I’m Mindful Campaign: 3-month WhatsApp-based nudges.
  • 5–7% adoption rate → champions become interns and ambassadors.
  • Goal: 1 million youth by 2030.

9. Personal Practice: Project 333

  • Ashish lives with only 33 personal items (clothes, sanitary kit, etc.).
  • Inspired by global minimalism movement.
  • Aligns with Gandhian values of simplicity.

10. Definition of Sustainability

  • “Listening to your inner voice.”
  • No rigid metrics → personal alignment with values.
  • Example: Taking a bus + cab instead of full cab ride (even if reimbursed).

11. Advice to Young Entrepreneurs

  • Social entrepreneurship is viable and fulfilling.
  • Focus on self-sustainable models that empower beneficiaries.
  • Take risks → high personal and professional rewards.

📘 Exam Tip:

Focus on the dual model of Ashish’s work: Paryavaran Mitra (waste + women empowerment) and Bridge4Change (mindfulness + youth engagement). Understand how ground research, community involvement, and scalable models drive impact. Be ready to discuss the role of dignity, equity, and inner alignment in sustainability transitions.

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