Displaying ingenuity, an IAS officer has transformed discarded city buses into functional spaces that cater to various civic needs in the city of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. Swapnil Wankhade, a 2016 batch IAS officer serving as the Municipal Commissioner, has dubbed this initiative ‘Kabaad se Kamaal’ (waste to wonder).
The project’s success has attracted international attention, and a team from London will be visiting Jabalpur in November to witness the initiative first hand.
Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Wankhade shared details about the waste-to-wonder project.
KABAAD SE KAMAAL
The project began with the refurbishment of city buses that were over 15-20 years old and were no longer in use. Rather than mindlessly scrapping these buses, Mr. Wankhade’s team reimagined their purpose. “We could have sold these buses as scrap, but I thought, why not use them for something good?” the officer said.
The buses were ingeniously repurposed into libraries, providing much-needed access to books for slum-dwelling children. Initially stocked with comic books, the libraries have now expanded their collection to include educational materials for students from classes V to VIII. This creative solution addressed the lack of proper libraries for underprivileged children in the city.
REST ROOM
Furthermore, some buses were transformed into rest areas for travellers at the bus stand. These city buses are now outfitted with fans and appropriate lighting, and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance has been put in place to guarantee the safety and security of the area.
CHANGING ROOM
Mr. Wankhade also mentioned that the city has various ghats along the Narmada river, where changing rooms cannot be constructed due to regulations prohibiting any construction on the Narmada Ghats. “Therefore, we have utilized buses as changing rooms for women while ensuring both their safety and security,” he said.
FUTURE PLANS
One of the other significant transformations that the administration is looking at is converting these discarded buses into mobile police booths for the Mahila Police, enhancing safety measures for young girls and women in vulnerable areas.
GLOBAL RECOGNITION
The initiative’s impact and innovation did not go unnoticed. Jabalpur’s waste-to-wonder project stood out on the global stage, making it one of the ten finalists in a prestigious contest held in London.
“We are thrilled that our efforts have been recognized internationally,” Mr. Wankhade said. “Our waste-to-wonder initiative not only showcases creativity but also addresses vital societal needs. It is heartening to know that our work has garnered appreciation beyond our borders.”
The project’s success attracted the attention of a team from London, who will be visiting Jabalpur in November to witness the waste-to-wonder initiative first hand.
Jabalpur’s ‘Kabaad se Kamaal’ initiative serves as an inspiring example of how creativity and vision can transform waste into wonders, bringing positive change to communities and earning global recognition in the process.
