Aligned with the Government’s vision of scaling the island region’s blue economy efforts via investments in infrastructure, research and policy frameworks – the PwC India Foundation and Dakshin Foundation are collaborating on a pilot to scale intervention focusing on creating a sustainable solid waste management system in the Andamans. The initiative aims to address rising concerns of improper waste management which pose a significant threat to blue economies by endangering marine ecosystems and coastal areas.
Mr. Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC in India and PwC India Foundation, said: “The Andaman and Nicobar Islands will play a crucial role in India’s blue economy agenda, and we at PwC India are committed to enabling this journey. We are collaborating with organisations, local communities and the government to curate holistic solutions and drive meaningful change. Our specialists focused on climate, energy, water and circular economy are working on developing policies and frameworks to leverage the rich biodiversity in the region and unlock the scalable potential here.”
Mr. Jaivir Singh, Vice Chairman, PwC India Foundation, said: “We envision this pilot-to-scale model in association with Dakshin to be a catalyst for transformative change, not only in Wandoor but as a replicable model for marine sustainability globally. This initiative aligns with the PwC India Foundation’s ethos of fostering lasting environmental and community development, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.”
The intervention involves collaboration and involvement at the Gram Panchayat level, along with local communities like the Wandoor Gram Panchayat and women self-help groups (SHGs) as well as tourism-related business owners and the Department of Environment and Forest, Andaman and Nicobar Administration. The objective is to take an interdisciplinary approach – right from investments to quicker decision making around emerging risks by strengthening local networks, building grassroots’ capacities and involving local stakeholders.
The intervention’s pilot succeeded in expanding the reach of the solid waste management (SWM) system to 110 new households, bringing the total reach to around 350 households at present. The PwC India Foundation grant enabled Dakshin Foundation to support the Wandoor Gram Panchayat (WGP) by hiring additional sanitary workers that were critical to the expansion to new households.
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