Raipur: In a unique initiative, Ambikapur administration will start giving free meals to to ragpickers, and just about anyone who brings in 1kg of plastic garbage.
A population less than 2 lakh, Ambikapur had jumped 15 positions to become the second cleanest city in the country in Swachh rankings, and is looking to take it at a higher level. Ambikapur Municipal Cooperation (AMC) will open India’s first ‘Garbage Cafe’ in 10 days at the city’s main bus stand. Free breakfast and lunch will be provided to the poor and ragpickers in exchange for half a kilo or 1 kg of plastic waste.
The budget provides Rs 5 lakh for the Garbage Cafe Scheme. They are also planning to provide free shelter for the homeless who collect plastic waste. This scheme is being linked to the cleanliness campaign. Ambikapur is the second largest city in the country in the ‘Sanitation Campaign’.
The city has an efficient solid waste management system that runs on 18 segregation centres, where dry and wet garbage are separated and sent to a processing centre. This was earlier a dump site but now boasts a 14-acre botanical garden.
