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Conversation with a real Eco- Hero |
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12th March, 2015 It was sunny afternoon, with ongoing exams I was busy preparing for next exam on 13th March. Suddenly a man called from outside," Is there any one at home? Please have a look outside." I saw a middle aged man outside, sweating and looked as if was in a great hurry. He asked if we could allow him to keep his packed sack in our ground for some time. He added he would come as soon as possible to take it back. I replied there's no problem. Before I could ask him more questions the man left riding his worn out bicycle loaded with another similar huge sack. I then sat on a balcony with my books so that I can take care of his stuff too. Suddenly I saw that sac was filled with bottles (as I saw the lids erupting from the sack), I then went nearer and palpated the sack. It was only then when I realized that he was recyclable waste collector. Wow, a genuine eco- hero at my door. I was eager to see him back and get some information about him. After waiting for hours, finally he came back to take back his sack. I greeted him and welcomed him to my house. He looked puzzled and I clarified that I am a volunteer passionate to serve my environment. I asked if he can lend some time to have conversation with me along with some Hi- Tea. His smile in the wrinkled face clearly reflected his happiness in silence. His name was Budha Chandra Nepal, a 56 ears old man, living in Gobreni Village, Chitwan Distict Nepal (few hours from my area). Through conversation I came to know that he has been world as a recyclable waste collector since last four months. Previously he worked as a Rickshaw driver but as people prefer public buses and tempos these days, he shifted to this profession recently. He was literally illiterate with a family of 7 members i.e. 2 sons, 3 daughters, his spouse and him. Out of 3 sons one was dead while working overseas and out of 2 alive one is working in Golf country overseas and the next is a tractor driver in village. 2 daughters are already married and one is missing since 6 years. His spouse is a housewife. Life sounded miserable for him. I got to know that he collects recyclable stuffs like plastic bags, papers, medicine bottle, metallic equipments, tyres etc. from local unmanaged landfills or buys from shops. He pays NRs. 6 (U.S $ 0.06) per kg while as he sells it in the recycling centre at the rate of NRs. 10 (US $ 0.10) per kg. Similarly he pays NRs 1 per glass bottle and sells at NRs 2 per bottle. Every day he collects these waste stuffs and carries it in his bicycle to the recyclable centre in the nearby city (about 7 hours ride everyday). According to him he earns an average of NRs. 400 (US $ 4.08) everyday from this job. I asked him the name of recyclable centre he works for but he was unknown about the name and unaware about the number of employees working there. He was satisfied with this job but was insecure because he can earn only when he can collect waste. His earning is hardly enough for basic needs. He knew that illiteracy was a main cause for his miserable lifestyle. After our conversation I thanked him for sharing information and I promised to provide him recyclable stuffs generated from my home for free next time he passes by my house. He expressed his gratitude for my greeting and respect (He said he had never been respected like this before). I helped him to load his big sack in his bicycle and he left with smile. I realized that people like him are the real eco- heroes. |
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20 Comments
Dear Anthony, I am so pleased to hear that you love to go through my articles. Thank you for your appreciation :)
I too wish that Mr. Budha Chandra receive respect from public for his work (in Nepal they are overlooked) . Education to all is the basis for living a respectful life. Hopefully this mission will be accomplished soon :)
Posted 25-03-2015 02:17
Dear Manav, yeah person like Budha Chandra are working so hard to segregate the wastes we have generated. They are the one through which our wastes get recycled. Though his earning wasn't god he said that he was happy with his job and the service.
Salute to him, once more.
Posted 25-03-2015 02:12
Dear Samuel Kpartor, I am so glad to hear that my piece of interview made your day. Thank you :)
Dear Rohan Brotehr, yeah education is life changing, a basic to living. Had he got formal education then his condition would have been much more better :)
Posted 25-03-2015 02:08
Ddear Humaid, the condition is neither better here in Nepal too for such garbage collectors. Like you said they merely get respected for their job, neither they receive good payment for their hard and-dedicated work.
Yeah, definitely waste segregation should start at household and will be more effective if there is legal provision for waste segregation like in magnificent Korea and other developed countries.
At least we should do our part of what's possible for such genuine eco- heroes :)
Posted 25-03-2015 02:05
Dear Samuel, thank you so much :)
Dear Rahul brother, thank you for going through :)
Posted 25-03-2015 02:00
Bindu, am sincerely charmed each time I read your report because they are always fresh with great new ideas. These are the kinds of people we see everyday and look the other way but you just gave them an identity (a great one) with this lovely piece.
God bless you and continue to strengthen Mr Chandra and provide him with even greater ideas to live above his sorry state.
Posted 23-03-2015 10:56
The story of Buddha Chandra really overwhelmed me. It is very heartwarming to hear of such persons in our community. I hope such people continue their noteworthy work and at the same inculcate such values of environmentalism in the young generation of today. Buddha Chandra will be an inspiration to many of our members here on tunza. Thanks for sharing your encounter! A very well written and described story as well:)
Posted 23-03-2015 03:10
Kudos to Budha Chandra Nepal! Indeed he is real Eco-Hero. Waste collection & Recycling we all do but this person is doing it for a LIVING. This is really touching.
Well done Bindu, for an excellent report.
Education is life changing, no doubt.
Posted 22-03-2015 19:17
Girl, you made my day with that report, we must celebrate and motivate even the least in society, Thanks for the inspiration.keep it up and thanks for sharing that wonderful report.
Posted 22-03-2015 16:02
Wow Bindu, a salute to genuine Eco-heroes like Budha who have to toil to find recyclable items just because we are lazy to segregate in our homes.
In India such people have a miserable life, not only are they outcasted by everyone,
they have to search huge landfills where all kinds of wastes and fecal matter are dumped together.
Their condition can change if only we could inculcate the act of segregating in every household.
Posted 22-03-2015 15:54
Salute to Budha !!!
its people like him who are helping us to reduce the footprint knowingly unknowingly
great report Bindu di
Posted 22-03-2015 10:53
This is so amazing Bindu ,I am happy that You actually had an interview ,thanks for sharing such actions ,what a passion .I am inspired :-)
Posted 22-03-2015 10:16
Dear Jack- I am so happy to hear your so generous words. Thank you so much :)
Though I couldn't help him more, all I did at the moment was unfolding his story and serving him some snacks with polite conversation.
As a regional ambassador we certainly need to do what we can to create the global impact. Cheers :)
Posted 21-03-2015 17:45
@Fayshal- Thank you so much. I will share other articles soon. Also, I would love to read yours as well.
Cheers :)
Posted 21-03-2015 17:39
Dear Sister Arushi, I am so happy to see you such kind and loving words. Thank you so much :)
Yeah, his story was miserable but he said he was happy with his work.
Posted 21-03-2015 17:36
wow! what a touching report, @Bindu you are a wonderful person- you are a gold star. Thank you for what you did for that man.
Yes, this is an eco-hero. True story unsung. This says many things for us, our work as Ambassadors goes beyond just speaking but also brings about being creative and innovative so that men like him can be supported even as little as giving them a meal and chatting with them.
@Bindu- you have a heart of gold! excellent report, thank you.
Posted 21-03-2015 10:25
WOW! Such an indepth description of your first hand experience meeting "a real eco hero" . I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. You've written it so well that I could see the events unfolding in front of me.
Bindu di : You are amazing and inspire me a lot.
But I am really sad and touched at his sorry state & his family background etc. May God keep him happy.
Posted 21-03-2015 08:48
well wrote Bindu !! nice to hear from you!! :)
eagerly waiting to see the next write!!!
Posted 20-03-2015 17:14
@Christy - So happy to go through your comments. Thank you for your lovely words :)
Yeah, though the literacy rate in my country is 65.9 % (According to population census 2011) there are still a lot of middle aged and elderly people who are illiterate. Education is the only source to happiness. Different strategy is implemented by government and other organizations.
Hopefully soon our country have educated next generation.
Garbage collectors directly contribute to clean environment. I felt glad to have conversation with him :)
Posted 20-03-2015 11:58
Wow, it's the most fresh and vivid interview I've ever seen in my life, Bindu. I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you :) Well, illiteracy usually directs to poorer or miserable life most times. That's the reason the education is the most important factor for future of any country. You are such a brave girl to hold him and ask an interview. Good job! Usually garbage collectors have tough life situation but they are truly eco-heroes as they directly contribute to recycle.
Posted 20-03-2015 10:52