Season 1 · Episode 3
Lakshmi Karunakaran
From a White Collar Worker to Being the Voice for Waste Pickers
Play this episodeLoads the Spotify player
Lakshmi Karunakaran is a communication specialist and educator working with Hasiru Dala, an organization fighting for the dignity and social equality of waste picker communities in Bengaluru. We discuss her transition from corporate life to community work, boundary setting in intense emotional labor, and how waste pickers are essentially silent green collared workers. Her Buguri Community Libraries are giving children from these communities the right of choice for their futures.
Core Ideas
- Leaving the corporate path to follow an inner voice aligned with social impact.
- Managing emotional overwhelm and setting boundaries while doing intense community work.
- The economic and environmental reality of waste pickers saving the city 85 crore rupees annually.
- Building community libraries to ensure children have the right of choice regarding their future careers.
Resources & References
- Links and Resources: India Reading Olympiad award – Hyderabad Literature Festival 2020, Hasiru Dala, Buguri Children’s Initiative – Community Libraries, Radio Active CR 90.4 MHz – Urban Community Radio, Read Aloud Campaign – nonprofit, Books authored by Buguri children under IFA – *Aye Reena* & *Oota Aayutha*
- Books Mentioned: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, John Holt’s books, Neil Gaiman’s books, Jane Sahi’s books
- People Mentioned: Nalini Shekar, Jane Sahi, Amandeep Sandhu, N. Manjunatha Prasad, Website
If you enjoyed listening to my podcast, I would really appreciate it if you left a review on iTunes to help more people find out about it.