From a White Collar Worker to being the Voice for Waste Pickers – Lakshmi Karunakaran
In this eye-opening episode, I talk with Lakshmi Karunakaran, a communications specialist and educator who works with Hasiru Dala, a Bangalore-based organization focused on improving the lives of waste pickers. Lakshmi shares her remarkable journey from a white-collar corporate job to becoming a voice for these under-recognized workers who play a crucial role in waste management and environmental conservation.
Lakshmi passionately talks about the “silent green-collared workers” – waste pickers – and how they contribute to saving ₹85 crores (850 million rupees) annually in waste management for the city. We also discuss the significance of Bangalore issuing Occupational Identity Cards for waste pickers, giving them the recognition and dignity they deserve. Lakshmi also runs Buguri Community Libraries to provide children of waste pickers with access to education and career opportunities.
We dive deep into Lakshmi’s personal transformation and how she balances the emotional overwhelm of working in a community-focused environment while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Her heartfelt advice is to “invest in small projects with a big heart” – something she embodies in her daily work.
In this episode, we discuss:
- • Lakshmi’s Career Shift – From a white-collar worker to a passionate community activist.
- • Waste Pickers: Silent Green-Collared Workers – Understanding the crucial environmental role of waste pickers in waste management.
- • The Impact of Occupational Identity Cards – Bangalore’s initiative to give waste pickers recognition and reduce abuse.
- • Buguri Community Libraries – How Lakshmi’s community libraries help transform the lives of children from waste-picker families.
- • Lakshmi’s Advice on Small Projects with Big Hearts – Investing in initiatives that make a significant community impact.
“Waste pickers are environmentalists – silent green-collared workers.” – Lakshmi Karunakaran