Shillong, Dec 15: Women-led initiatives are emerging as key drivers of waste management reform in Meghalaya, with self-help groups playing a growing role in improving waste segregation and reducing landfill burden across the state.
One such example is the Iainehskhem Self-Help Group (SHG), popularly known as the “Merry Maidens of Shillong”, which now operates a Waste Recovery Centre after beginning as a collective of women waste pickers at the Marten landfill. The group has transitioned from informal waste collection to producing certified compost using traditional and indigenous techniques, converting organic waste into a valuable resource.
Officials said the transformation of the group has been supported by consistent training and technical assistance from the Urban Affairs Department. Capacity-building programmes and institutional backing have enabled the women to formalise their work, improving income security while turning a once-stigmatised occupation into a dignified and sustainable livelihood.
The initiative has contributed to a reduction in landfill load, improved soil health through compost use, and increased awareness of waste segregation in surrounding communities. Beyond environmental gains, the SHG has helped strengthen the local green economy, demonstrating the socio-economic potential of community-driven waste management models.
The success of the Merry Maidens aligns with the Government of Meghalaya’s broader efforts to strengthen waste management systems across districts. State-led initiatives focusing on source segregation, decentralised composting, community participation and environmental monitoring are beginning to show results, with women-led groups emerging as a key pillar of this transition.
At the national level, waste management reforms under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, have emphasised plastic reduction, decentralised processing and citizen participation. Meghalaya’s experience reflects this wider shift, highlighting how grassroots, women-led initiatives—when supported by state agencies—can deliver long-term solutions to waste management challenges while advancing inclusive and sustainable development.
Also Read: Meghalaya’s traditional foods may hold natural answers to hypertension: Study
Also Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
