Empowering Rural Communities: CLOCC India's Eco-Village Initiative in Chengalpattu

CLOCC India’s Aditi Ramola and Neha Nalge visited the Chengalpattu District villages to formally kickstart the Eco Village Initiative joined by the Hand-in-Hand India team led by Dr. Porselvan accompanied by Mr. Rajkumar, Ms. Revathy, Mr. Aarmugam, and Ms. Samyuktha.

Last week (5th March 2025) CLOCC India launched the Eco-Village Initiative in the villages of Manivakkam, Padur, Vellaputhur, and Perumpairkandigai to create a community-driven waste management model in rural Chengalpattu. By bringing together local communities, local government, and waste workers, the initiative aims to establish a scalable and sustainable waste system that aligns with national initiatives like Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin).

CLOCC India’s Aditi Ramola and Neha Nalge visited the Chengalpattu District villages to formally kickstart the Eco Village Initiative. They were joined by joined by the Hand-in-Hand India team led by Dr. Porselvan accompanied by Mr. Rajkumar, Ms. Revathy, Mr. Aarmugam, and Ms. Samyuktha.

The initiative focuses on community-led waste collection, improvements to local waste management infrastructure, and public awareness campaigns to promote proper waste segregation and plastic reduction. Training programs will equip informal waste workers with new skills, while village waste management committees will oversee operations and drive long-term improvements. Additional efforts will include setting up plastic recycling hubs, encouraging home composting, and ensuring continuous monitoring and stakeholder engagement to create a sustainable model for rural waste management.

Local implementation partners Hand-in-Hand India and Ambire Foundation will be working closely with local stakeholders and households, leveraging their expertise in community engagement and waste management.

The Eco-Village Initiative builds upon CLOCC’s work in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, where it has been promoting sustainable waste management since 2022. Through the Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) framework, CLOCC has helped municipalities develop tailored waste strategies that address plastic leakage and waste mismanagement.

A key milestone in this effort was the launch of the Chengalpattu Waste Master Plan (CWMP) on November 25, 2024. Developed through stakeholder workshops and waste baseline analyses, the plan provides a roadmap for tackling the district’s complex waste challenges, in a region of 2.8 million residents. It focuses on waste separation and processing at the source, public awareness campaigns, composting programs, and locally tailored solutions for residual waste. Download the Chengalpattu Waste Masterplan here.

Through the Eco-Village Initiative, CLOCC is taking the next step toward transforming rural waste management. By creating a self-sustaining, community-led system, this initiative will serve as a model for rural areas across India, demonstrating that grassroots participation and strategic planning can drive meaningful change toward a cleaner and more sustainable future.