Story of Mala Nimbalkar: Rag Picker to Manager of MRF centre in Bhopal

Read this story in Detail | For over a decade, Rekha Gaikwad and Mala Nimbalkar spent their days collecting waste from Bhopal's streets as rag pickers. Mala now serves as the in-charge of an MRF (material recovery facility) centre at Eidgah Hills in Bhopal, while Rekha and many other former ragpickers work alongside her in waste segregation. These facilities represent hope for thousands of waste workers across India.

Material Recovery Facilities are specialised centres where mixed waste collected from cities is separated into recyclable materials. These sorted materials are then sent to recyclers, creating a systematic approach to waste management while providing dignified employment.

Mala's day begins at 8 AM, overseeing the segregation of waste into 16 different categories. Her husband supports her in this crucial work that transforms both waste and lives.

The MRF centres in Bhopal were established through collaboration between the Sarthak NGO's founder, Imtiaz Ali, and the municipal corporation. Their primary goal was to provide rag pickers with dignified livelihoods while addressing the city's waste management challenges.

These centres play a crucial role in controlling plastic pollution through systematic recycling, making them essential for environmental sustainability.

Cities like Bhopal and Indore in Madhya Pradesh have witnessed significant improvements in waste management. However, many Indian cities and rural areas still lag behind. Children and rag pickers continue to search through burning garbage dumps, hoping to earn a few rupees for their daily meals.

The transformation seen in Mala and Rekha's lives needs to reach rag pickers across India. This requires a serious commitment from citizens, communities, and governments to improve waste management practices.

Success depends on treating waste workers with dignity and respect while implementing systematic waste management solutions. Only through collective effort can we replicate Bhopal's success story nationwide, transforming lives while building a cleaner, more sustainable India.

The journey from streets to dignity is possible – Mala and Rekha are living proof of this transformation. 

Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.

More Video Reports

May Rains Hit Tendu Leaf Collectors in Madhya Pradesh

Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project: Water Crisis Solution for Two States

Kanh Close Duct: MP Diverts Polluted River Ahead of 2028 Kumbh Mela

From Waste to ₹Lakhs Profit, Growing Plastic Recycling in Madhya Pradesh

Stay connected with Ground Report for underreported environmental stories.

Follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook; share your thoughts at [email protected]; subscribe to our weekly newsletter for deep dives from the margins; join our WhatsApp community for real-time updates; and catch our video reports on YouTube.

Your support amplifies voices too often overlooked—thank you for being part of the movement.