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“Building trust and fostering cooperation in complex
public projects is ‘the tough task’.”
The Unwavering Process:
A Philosophical Stance for the Future
communication mandates engaging in the local language, even if it is just a few
words or sentences. This seemingly minor effort “gives them a nice impact on
your relations with those locals”. This is not merely about courtesy but building
the necessary connection to overcome the significant “lacuna” of public partic
ipation. As Abhishek notes, if the public for whom these efforts are intended
“are not ready to keep the surroundings clean,” comprehensive success remains
elusive.
This leads to a pervasive misconception that Abhishek actively addresses:
the belief that waste management is solely the corporation’s or government’s
responsibility. While taxes are paid, the sheer scale of India’s population,
exceeding 1.4 billion, renders it “absolutely impossible for any corporation or
any State government, or any central government to manage the West reduced
by 140 crore public”. The philosophical implication here is profound: Effective
waste management is not just a civic service, but a shared liability demanding
individual responsibility. The practical consequence of this misconception is ev
ident in the 99% mixed waste arriving at landfills, complicating mechanical seg
regation and often relegating it to informal workers, compromising their dignity.
Abhishek argues that a simple, yet transformative, solution lies at the source:
segregating wet and dry waste at the household level, which could solve “60%
of the problem”. This requires a fundamental shift in individual mindset and a
recognition of one’s direct contribution to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
Abhishek’s pragmatic philosophy extends beyond immediate solutions to en
compass a foundational principle for sustained progress: the unwavering com
mitment to the process. He articulates that even if a system is not yielding 100%
efficiency, “the process must go on”. This insight is rooted in his bioengineering
understanding; akin to a biogas plant in winter, where bacteria’s energy shifts
to self-preservation, stopping the process would require significant energy and