Background:
Kolar is a district bordering Bengaluru rural district on the west and the Chittoor district of AP on the east. The district has 5 taluks and one of the taluks, Kolar, was chosen for this intervention. The state of Karnataka has trained women to drive waste collection vehicles and there is need to demonstrate how this can be a gamechanger both for empowering women by providing them livelihood opportunities and also for setting up well-functioning solid waste management systems.

Objectives:
The objective of this project is to support 90 women in 30 Gram Panchayats to take up waste collection in partnership with the Gram Panchayats. Additionally, Saahas is supporting 6 Gram Panchayats in becoming model Panchayats for solid waste management. This is being done by working closely with the Gram Panchayats and setting up the entire collection, transportation, and processing chain. 

Apart from setting up waste management systems, the promotion of waste reduction is being carried out by encouraging women to switch to sustainable menstruation products and supporting the implementation of the SUP ban in the villages.