In a remote region in northern Kerala, a group of 28 women is transforming environmental activism and women's empowerment one bag, one pot, and one repaired LED bulb at a time.
The women of the Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) are spearheading a quiet green revolution in the Kannur district's Kannapuram village. Once limited to sanitation and rubbish collection, they have evolved into community leaders, environmental stewards, and entrepreneurs who are transforming trash into money, self-respect, and climate-positive action.
The HKS workers have embraced upcycling and trash reduction in a unique way. Used clothing is gathered from homes and recycled into composting tools, eco-friendly bags, and pots for home décor. Under their Haritha Mangalyam project, single-use plastics at weddings and events are being replaced with rentable steel plates and glasses, while discarded LED lights are meticulously refurbished and repurposed.
Speaking to PTI, Sujna M, Kannur District Resource Person for the Suchitwa Mission, stated, "These activities not only reduce the village’s carbon footprint, but also offer meaningful income to the women."
Because of the effectiveness of the grassroots innovations, women's average monthly income has increased from approximately Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 since the project started in October 2024.
The 28-person team, led by Nishita, works in four clusters over 14 wards. The first two weeks of the month are when they pick up non-biodegradable rubbish from homes. On the days that remain, microbusinesses are operated in response to community directives.
After six years with HKS, Nishita remarked, "Since starting these initiatives, our income has increased significantly. It's also rewarding to know we're helping both the environment and the local community.”
Reusable bags cost just Rs 5, eco-pots cost between Rs 50 and Rs 100, and maintenance services for LED bulbs cost Rs 40 each.
In addition to selling eco-products, HKS members run a successful housekeeping and dishwashing business, which increases their earnings and lessens their dependency on waste collection fees.
Instructing a Future Beyond Waste
These women are instructors as well as producers. In order to share their knowledge and vision for a more environmentally friendly future, the HKS team has been asked to train students in schools, colleges, and even prisoners at Kannur's central prison.
"This initiative isn't just about income," said Rathi, the Kannapuram Grama Panchayat's president. Building confidence and demonstrating that waste can be a resource when managed responsibly and creatively are the goals.
Pioneering Panchayats of Kannur
Five panchayats in the Kannur district—Kannapuram, Chapparapadavu, Payam, Kadirur, and Peralassery—have been chosen for a pilot green initiative program. These models seek to show how community-level emissions can be decreased, landfill burden can be lessened, and total waste management can be achieved through HKS-led activities.
Sujna stated, “Chapparapadavu, for instance, achieved total waste collection in just 10 days. Now we’re setting up organic waste collection units to convert kitchen waste into fertiliser for crops.”
Where Innovation Meets Inclusion
In a number of areas, Kerala has progressively adopted "Haritha" (green) reforms. Kannur district is home to the state's first green-certified train station and the first environmentally friendly jail.
“These HKS-led microenterprises give women a reliable, sustainable income during the half of the month when waste collection work is paused,” Sujna continued. They are unable to accept ordinary jobs or even MGNREGA work because of the potential for urgent tasks. They remain involved, empowered, and profitable thanks to these internal initiatives.
With participants ranging in age from 37 to 65, the program is demonstrating that creativity is not limited by age. In addition to working to clean up their village, the women of Kannapuram are demonstrating to the rest of the state and the nation how waste can be transformed into value through sustainable practices and community-based business.
