Home > Films >> Nagara Nyrmalya >> Current

Nagara Nyrmalya

Current Situation

A brief about "Nagara Nyrmala"

The film presents the efforts of "Santhimmi," a Pourakarmika, as she motivates people in her neighborhood to adopt safe solid waste management techniques.

Solid waste or garbage strewn all over is a common sight in any Indian city. Little do we care about how it is disposed, where it is disposed, who disposes it and of our role, as citizens, in this entire process. "Nagara-Nyrmalya" addresses the complex issues involved in solid waste management and the problems faced by "Pourakarmikas" (solid waste workers, also known as "Safai Karmacharis") in their efforts at maintaining healthy neighborhoods in the city. This entertaining human drama presents the efforts of "Santhimmi," a Pourakarmika, as she motivates people in her neighborhood to adopt safe solid waste management techniques. The film highlights how such small efforts could help vastly improve our approach to solid waste management in cities, big and small.

"Nagara-Nyrmalya" addresses the complex issues involved in solid waste management and the problems faced by "Pourakarmikas" (solid waste workers)

The film’s real purpose would be to convince communities all over that the problem of solid waste management is not one of "dump and forget" by using Pourakarmikas as “mere extensions of brooms”, but one where the individual and the community creatively engage with Pourakarmikas in finding a sustainable solution to the problem. "Nagara Nyrmalya" has the potential of supporting this movement to improve our local environment.

Pourakarmikas of Ward 49 B of Bangalore Mahanagara Palike were involved in an interesting discussion with the audience on the features of the process as envisaged in the film, thus demolishing the myth about them as an ineffective, unintelligent and unresponsive workforce. Contrarily, they demonstrated how they would use the film and the associated community education material in encouraging communities to engage in responsible waste management at source.

To order a copy of this film or to request a a screening, please contact ESG. The film is available in VHS and CD format in Kannada or with English subtitles and costs INR 750/-. Cost for overseas requests is USD 20 (+ USD 5 for postage). You can send a cheque or wire the money directly into ESG account. Please enquire first for wiring details.