IIM Shillong Takes The Crown At Wipro Earthian Sustainability Program

IIM Shillong won the prestigious Wipro Earthian Sustainability Challenge 2016 which received participation from hundreds of college teams from across of the country. Being one of the top ten college teams, we received an award of 1.5 lakhs to be shared by the sustainability efforts in the college and the team. In addition to making it to the Earthian national winners list, we were also awarded The TN Khoshoo- Earthian trophy (college level) for the most practical and feasible solution presented.

Our team consisted of two second year participants Jahnvi Jethanandani and Tanmay Kasliwal who worked on the idea of creating a sustainable Solid Waste Management for Shillong. The team was mentored by Dr. Sanjeeb Kakoty, under whose guidance two IIM Shillong teams have already won the Wipro Earthian twice in the past.

Wipro outlines basic themes from which the teams can choose one or more of their choice which this year was Traffic management, waste management and water management. Mainly focusing on exploring the needs of the city, we chose to create a tailored solution in the form of a decentralised solid waste management system for Shillong.

The main objective of the separate models was to work around the complicated administrative structure of Shillong due to the enforcement of Schedule VI of the constitution entailing a 3-tier Governance system. The solution consisted of creating a profitable model to incentivize the members of the self-governing local communities - the Dorbars towards the application of better solid waste management practices that included Bokashi composting and minimising waste that reaches the landfills.

-------------

About the Authors:

Jahnvi Jethanandani, final year PGP participant

Tanmay Kasliwal, final year PGP participant