IIMC Students Gain Insights Into Waste Management at Mahisapat Municipality
Srishti Singh | Sep 27, 2025, 23:53 IST
IIMC Dhenkanal students visited the Mahisapat Municipality’s Wealth Centre to learn about waste management, where experts stressed the challenge of segregation and workers shared their earnings, benefits, and role in recycling. They also toured the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant, with officials highlighting its importance for a sustainable environment in Dhenkanal.
Wealth Centre of Mahisapat, Dhenkanal Municipality
Dhenkanal: Students of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, visited the Wealth Centre of Mahisapat Municipality on Wednesday to understand how waste management is carried out at the local level. Students from all three departments- English Journalism, Odia Journalism, and Corporate Communication & Brand Management- took part in the visit.
Waste collected from different parts of the town is brought to the Wealth Centre every day between 5:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in municipal vehicles.
Sanitation expert Sasmita Ojha explained that the biggest challenge is waste segregation. “If residents separate dry and wet waste before disposal, our work becomes much easier. Right now, a lot of time is wasted in separating them, and even then, many items remain mixed,” she said.
She added that workers are on duty from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., receive four days of paid leave every month, and earn between ₹13,500 and ₹15,000. Recyclable items such as plastics are sold to generate additional revenue.
The Wealth Centre is supervised by Chabhi Pradhan, a transgender person. She said that more members of the transgender community are part of the workforce, and none face discrimination. Workers also receive an annual antiseptic injection to protect them from infections.
Later, the students also visited the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) to understand the scientific methods of treating waste. Officials stressed that these initiatives are vital to maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment in Dhenkanal.
Waste collected from different parts of the town is brought to the Wealth Centre every day between 5:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in municipal vehicles.
Sanitation expert Sasmita Ojha explained that the biggest challenge is waste segregation. “If residents separate dry and wet waste before disposal, our work becomes much easier. Right now, a lot of time is wasted in separating them, and even then, many items remain mixed,” she said.
She added that workers are on duty from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., receive four days of paid leave every month, and earn between ₹13,500 and ₹15,000. Recyclable items such as plastics are sold to generate additional revenue.
The Wealth Centre is supervised by Chabhi Pradhan, a transgender person. She said that more members of the transgender community are part of the workforce, and none face discrimination. Workers also receive an annual antiseptic injection to protect them from infections.
Later, the students also visited the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) to understand the scientific methods of treating waste. Officials stressed that these initiatives are vital to maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment in Dhenkanal.