Darjeeling, October 10, 2023: Project Hilldaari, supported by Nestlé India and implemented by PLAN Foundation in collaboration with technical partner Recity India, has extended its operations to Darjeeling in West Bengal. Project Hilldaari focuses on creating inclusive, contextualized, and resilient waste management models in selected tourist cities across India. Currently, the project is active in Mussoorie, Mahabaleshwar, Ponda, Dalhousie, and Munnar.
To mark the launch of the project in Darjeeling, a roundtable discussion was organized with various stakeholders to address plastic waste-related issues and explore strategies for effective management. The event saw participation from approximately 40 individuals representing civil society, associations, and NGOs.Across its five existing locations in India, Project Hilldaari has successfully diverted over 27,000 metric tons of waste away from landfills through source segregation. This initiative has achieved an 80% source segregation rate across more than 20,000 residential and commercial waste collection points.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sanjay Khajuria, Director, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Nestlé India said, “Project Hilldaari has been growing from strength to strength. We are delighted to begin this journey in Darjeeling. We are confident that through collective participation of local bodies, citizens, tourists, and civil societies, we will be able to positively contribute to the idea of a waste-free future.”
Congratulating Nestlé India, PLAN Foundation and Recity Network on the launch of Project Hilldaari, Mr. DipenThakuri, Chairman, Darjeeling Municipality said, “Darjeeling attracts more than 7 lakh tourists every year. With this number going up in future, we foresee an increase in the quantity of solid waste. We appreciate Nestlé India, along with implementation partner PLAN Foundation and technical partner Recity Network and other stakeholders for initiating a systematic approach through Project Hilldaari towards holistic waste management solutions in the city. I am hopeful Darjeeling will be an example for other cities to follow.”
Ms. Neha Sasikumar, Director, PLAN Foundation said, “It gives us immense pleasure to bring Project Hilldaari to Darjeeling. With the reputation of being one of the most beautiful hill stations of the country, Darjeeling has attracted tourists from across the globe. This presents us with an opportunity to better manage the solid waste generated in the city and we are confident that the project would have a positive impact on it.”
The Project Hilldaari initiative is dedicated to professionalizing waste workers by involving them in source segregation through a multi-collaborative approach that includes municipal councils, citizens, contractors, waste workers, and influencers. To date, over 560 waste workers have received training to play a vital role in behavior change interventions. The project has also provided them with formal recognition, occupational IDs, health insurance, protective gear, and other essential benefits.The vision of Project Hilldaari is to transform Darjeeling into one of India's cleanest tourist cities. This objective can be realized by promoting positive behavior change within the city, encouraging source segregation, and working closely with waste workers to enhance their professionalism, with support from local administration.
