Embrace home composting or lose a month’s salary

In a unique move to contribute towards the environment, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has instructed its employees to set up compost units at their houses to dispose of wet waste.

According to the Municipal Commissioner, Asheesh Singh, this dictate is part of the 3Rs initiative—reduce, reuse, recycle—wherein it is important to dispose waste at source. This is IMC’s way to promote home composting in the city. By making home composting compulsory for its own staff, IMC is attempting to show the way and hence, encourage people to set up their own compost units at home.

All the officers and employees of IMC, even the semi-regularised ones, have been instructed to set up compost units at home. If the officers and employees fail to comply with the mandate, they will not be paid their salary for the month of October. However, considering the expense involved, the muster employees have been exempted.

All the heads of the IMC zones have been directed to make sure that their subordinates follow the order, and submit certificates to this effect by October 15. Officials from NGOs will visit the 5000 houses of IMC employees to verify the implementation of the programme by October 25.

By end of December, IMC hopes to see compost units installed in as many as 50,000 houses. Malini Gaud, mayor of Indore, is confident of achieving the target. She has been requesting corporators to spread awareness among the people and push them to support the cause. She has personally visited almost 2500 houses and granted them certificates.