We are super excited to finally launch our 'Green The Map' podcast series in partnership with U.S. Embassy India and American Center New Delhi. This monthly podcast series aims at highlighting issues related to climate change, sustainability, and building a more resilient community. To ‘reimagine and rebuild our world’, through ‘relevant and practical’ solutions that meet real needs of the people (individuals, families, neighborhoods and communities).

Our first expert is Mr. Manoj Mishra, from Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, in conversation with our founder Vimlendu Jha.

Mr. Mishra is a retired forest officer who serves as the convener of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, formed in 2007. This endevaour was developed as a result of growing levels of ignorance and increasing encrorachment of the floodplains of river Yamuna. Since then, the YJA has served as an advocacy based campaign, pioneering efforts to revive River Yamuna, protecting and preserving its floodbanks. Over the past decade, The YJA along with Mr. Mishra have actively worked on providing trainings, workshops, seminars, as well as on developing volumes of research studies on river Yamuna, to further their cause.

Listen in to Mr. Manoj Mishra, in conversation with Vimlendu, to learn more about building a roadmap toward a clean Yamuna.

As a part of of our Green The Map Podcast Series organised by Swechha, in collaboration with The American Center, this podcast is titled 'Wild and Wiful: Birds, Bees, Butterfies and Beyond!'. Neha Sinha one of the leading Conservation Experts, currently heading Conservation at BNHS, is in conversation with our Founder Vimlendu Jha, a leading environmentalist of India.

Swechha presents our next podcast, as a part of ‘Green The map Podcast Series, in association with The American Center, ‘WHAT A WASTE: Equity, Justice, Resilience & Future!’, leading Environmentalist Ms Bharati Chaturvedi in conversation with Vimlendu Jha.

In this conversation, Bharati answers the following:
- Her journey with waste and environmentalism, how she has helped shape the space of conservation and sustainability, especially in Delhi.

- In the context of India, Bharati explains her broad observations with respect to waste, it’s production, it’s management and it’s changing scale and character

- She explores the concept of Zero Waste, how far and beyond does one need to go, both as an individual as well as governance as a system, to achieve a safe and sustainable future with regards to waste.

- COVID has thrown yet another level of challenge for our already struggling waste management regime, with multifold increase in bio medical waste and lack of adequate mechanism or infrastructure to manage this waste, she shares her thoughts with respect to the problem and the solution

- There are talks of EPR for almost over a decade, if not more, Bharati holds our corporations accountable, seeks stringent and convincing commitment towards extended producers responsibility, to take EPR beyond mere collection.

- Waste pickets bring the element of equity and justice in the overall aspect of waste management. Her phenomenal work with them over decades is well documented. She shares key learnings and talks about how can they become part of the system, equitably in the expanding private waste management regime.

- Waste is not just what goes to the bin, but is also what goes to our air and water and our body. Finally, she shares her thoughts on why waste management needs to be linked to resilience of our communities and our country and how no debate on sustainability and climate change can be complete without comprehensive waste management plan.

As a part of a research project on Green Finance, IGES and Swechha have been conducting questionnaire surveys as well as in depth interviews with Green Entrepreneurs. Primary objective of this study is to understand the key challenges and impediments faced by the entrepreneurs, either in starting up or scaling up.

Sunny Gandharva, co-founder of Millets of Mewar, is one of the leading voices in India on sustainable food, and his enterprise Millets of Mewar in Udaipur, India has worked on sustainability for over a decade.

Vimlendu Jha is in conversation with Surendra (Sunny), discussing his journey, his future and the sustainable food ecosystem.

Vikram Mittal and his partner Meenakshi run a successful green enterprise, MAVI, largely in the space of organic and healthy beverages.

As a part of Green Finance Project, Swechha in partnership with IGES Japan is conducting questionnaire survey with several India based green enterprises, and also holding in-depth interviews with a few of them to understand their journey as well as the challenges they face operating a sustainable enterprise.

Swechha’s Executive Director Vimlendu Jha spoke with Vikram Mittal to learn about his inspirational journey.

Malini Kochupillai and Kunal Singh, run the Tenacious Bee Collective, a community based enterprise of friends and nature lovers who came together with a mission to bring raw, unpasteurized Himalayan honey to honey lovers everywhere; while simultaneously working with scientists, apiarists, Bee keepers and farmers to revive the dwindling bee population in Himachal Pradesh.

As a part of Green Finance Project, Swechha in partnership with IGES Japan is conducting questionnaire survey with several India based green enterprises, and also holding in-depth interviews with a few of them to understand their journey as well as the challenges they face operating a sustainable enterprise.

Swechha’s Director of Programmes Nida Ansari spoke with Malini Kochupillai to learn about her inspirational journey.

Tamarind Chutney, a sustainable and ethical fashion brand, was started by Tanvi and Charanya out of a desire to support artisan livelihoods, preserve India’s craft heritage and sell amazing products - all while following ethical business principles.

As a part of the Green Finance Project, Swechha in partnership with IGES Japan is conducting questionnaire survey with several India based green enterprises, and also holding in-depth interviews with a few of them to understand their journey as well as the challenges they face operating a sustainable enterprise.

Swechha’s Director of Programmes Nida Ansari spoke with Tanvi Bikhchandani to learn more about TC and her inspirational journey. "

As a part of a research project on Green Finance, IGES and Swechha have been conducting questionnaire surveys as well as in depth interviews with Green Entrepreneurs. Primary objective of this study is to understand the key challenges and impediments faced by the entrepreneurs, either in starting up or scaling up.

Nita Diwakar, an E-Rickshaw driver and a small scale entrepreneur, is one of the leading examples of how women are navigating through various challenges and entering the space of sustainable mobility, be it breaking gender stereotypes, cultural stigma or financial challenges.

Vimlendu Jha is in conversation with Nita from CARM-DAKSH, discussing her journey, her future and her inspiration.

We are super excited to finally launch our 'Green The Map' podcast series in partnership with U.S. Embassy India and American Center New Delhi. This monthly podcast series aims at highlighting issues related to climate change, sustainability, and building a more resilient community. To ‘reimagine and rebuild our world’, through ‘relevant and practical’ solutions that meet real needs of the people (individuals, families, neighborhoods and communities).

Our first expert is Mr. Manoj Mishra, from Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, in conversation with our founder Vimlendu Jha.

Mr. Mishra is a retired forest officer who serves as the convener of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, formed in 2007. This endevaour was developed as a result of growing levels of ignorance and increasing encrorachment of the floodplains of river Yamuna. Since then, the YJA has served as an advocacy based campaign, pioneering efforts to revive River Yamuna, protecting and preserving its floodbanks. Over the past decade, The YJA along with Mr. Mishra have actively worked on providing trainings, workshops, seminars, as well as on developing volumes of research studies on river Yamuna, to further their cause.

Listen in to Mr. Manoj Mishra, in conversation with Vimlendu, to learn more about building a roadmap toward a clean Yamuna.

A conversation on LGBTQIA+ Leadership in Times of COVID-19 with Anish Gawande, Founder of The Pink List; Rituparna Borah, Co-Founder of Nazariya QFRG; and Grace Banu, Founder of Trans Rights Now Collective The panel will be moderated by Rafiul Alom Rahman, Founder of The Queer Muslim Project

The panel discussed alternative ways of advocacy and organising in times of crisis. It also highlighted some of the existing relief efforts and support initiatives undertaken by the LGBTQIA+ community to combat COVID-19. This event was part of an online #CovidKindness campaign run by The Queer Muslim Project and Ms.Wafa Hamid - a US Embassy PAS Exchange Programs Alumni and one of the recipients of the US Embassy Alumni Micro Grants Competition, in association with the U.S. Embassy India, alumni of US government exchange programs & Swechha.

The virtual event took place on Tuesday, 28 April at 6 PM IST.

About the speakers:

Anish Gawande is a writer and translator. He is the director of the Dara Shikoh Fellowship and the co-founder of The Pink List. Gawande graduated with a degree in comparative literature and society from Columbia University and is currently a Rhodes Scholar pursuing a degree in intellectual history at Oxford University.

Rituparna Borah, Nazariya, Co-Director and Co-Founder: Rituparna is a queer feminist activist working on issues gender and sexuality for almost 15 years. Her expertise lies in planning and conducting training sessions on sexuality with organisations, collectives, rural communities, gender trainers, lawyers, students and government officials.

Grace Banu is a Dalit Transgender activist and writer from Tamil Nadu. Founder/Director of Trans Rights Now Collective, she's actively involved in relief work for transgender communities in rural and urban Tamil Nadu.

Rafiul Alom Rahman is the Founder of The Queer Muslim Project. He currently represents India on the Beijing+25 Global Youth Task Force set up by UN Women to strengthen gender-responsive action and to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Nominated as a “Young Change-maker” by The Hindu Business Line in 2018, Rafiul brings with him a decade of experience in gender and sexuality rights organising.