SAAHAS Organizes a Zero-Waste Awareness Drive for the World Environment Day

by Shrutee K/DNS

         Activities spanning three days planned at DLF Cyber Hub to encourage citizens to adopt sustainable waste management practices

         Popular Indian band, PARIKRAMA, to perform at DLF Cyber Hub on June 5 at 7 pm followed by a stand-up comedy performance by Vasu Primlani

Gurugram, 1^st June 2018: In the build-up to the World Environment Day, SAAHAS, a not-for-profit organization, is hosting three-day community drive at DLF Cyber Hub, Gurugram from June 3 to June 5 as part of the World Environment Day celebrations. The fun and interactive campaign is aimed at raising awareness around segregation of waste at source to help build ‘zero-waste communities’.

The three-day program will witness activities such as a musical performance by popular rock band Parikrama, a stand-up comedy act by renowned comedian and passionate environmentalist Vasu Primlani, interactive game kiosks, Nukkad Natak performances and a splendid 3-D art installation created from waste materials, to spread awareness about source segregation. The program will culminate with a pledge by the community to inculcate proper waste disposal habits in our daily lives.

These activities are part of ‘Alag Karo, Har Din Teen Bin,’ a multi-stakeholder solid waste management program, which is aimed at generating awareness around disposing off trash in the right way by segregating it as dry waste, wet waste and reject waste. It is a collaborative initiative involving Government, private sector and civil society members. It is being supported by Coca-Cola India Pvt Ltd, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), GmbH (Implementing agency on behalf of German Govt.) and Tetra Pak India; and is being implemented by Saahas.

As a part of the Alag Karo campaign, an estimated 20,000 households will adopt source segregation, and more than 500 waste pickers in Gurugram will be trained and equipped to handle segregated waste. The initiative will also include engagements with 50 schools and 50 commercial establishments to create awareness around waste management.

Schedule of Activities

Date & Day	Activity
June 3 (6pm to 9pm) June 4 (12pm to 9pm) June 5 (12pm to 9pm)	·         Interactive Activities ·         Street Play ·         3D Installation
June 5 (7pm onwards)	·         Cultural Event: o   Music / Band performance - PARIKRAMA o   Stand-up comedy - Vasu Primlani o   Pledge

About SAAHAS

Saahas a ‘Not for Profit’ organization was set up in 2001 under the Society’s Act.  Saahas is primarily focusing on programs based on the concepts of ‘Source Segregation and ‘Decentralized Waste Management’ within the framework of the Municipal Solid Waste Management and Handling Rules 2016. Saahas works with government institutions, companies, households and schools to bring attention to best practices in the management of solid waste and also establishes collection and processing infrastructure.  The programs also provide better livelihood opportunities for the informal sector and people at the bottom of the pyramid. Our vision is that of Communities across the country managing Municipal Solid Waste at source in a socially and environmentally responsible manner because when waste is managed at source it becomes a resource.

About Coca-Cola India 

Coca-Cola in India is one of the country’s leading beverage companies, offering a range of healthy, safe, high quality, refreshing beverage options to consumers. Since its re-entry in 1993, the company has been refreshing consumers with its beverage products – Coca- Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Thums Up Charged, Fanta, Fanta Green Mango, Limca, Sprite, Sprite Zero, Maaza, VIO flavoured milk ‘Almond Delight’ and ‘Kesar Delight’, Minute Maid range of juices, FUZE tea, Georgia and Georgia gold range of hot and cold tea and coffee options, Aquarius, Schweppes, SmartWater, Kinley and Bonaqua packaged drinking water and Kinley Club Soda. The Company along with its owned bottling operation and other bottling partners, through a strong network of over 2.6 million retail outlets, touches the lives of millions of consumers, at a rate of more than 500 servings per second. Its brands are some of the most preferred and most sold beverages in the country – Thums Up and Sprite – being the top two selling sparkling beverages.

The Coca-Cola India system provides direct employment to 25,000 people and indirect employment to more than 150,000 people. The Coca-Cola system in India is contributing in its own small way to building sustainable communities through community initiatives like Support My School, VEER, Parivartan and Unnati and by reducing its own environmental footprint. For further information on the company's India operations and its products, please visit www.coca-colaindia.com.