On a lazy Sunday afternoon, a group of citizens from Bengaluru were up in arms. Tired of the garbage mafia in the city, they wanted the Bengaluru Municipal Corporation’s Solid Waste Management ‘crusader’ Subodh Yadav to be reinstated to his post.
Protests against government machinery and inefficient bureaucrats are common, but in a rare display of solidarity, the city is rallying around a bureaucrat who is known for having brought about immense ground level change across the city.
Subodh Yadav, who made significant headway in countering the city’s garbage crisis, was removed from his post and transferred to a different department last Friday. Citizen groups are alleging the hand of the garbage mafia behind the decision and are calling it “untimely, unjustified and unacceptable.”
A change.org petition started on June 25th has seen more than 2500 signatures. Two protests have already been organised in the city. The Quint spoke to a few Bengalurians to understand why they want to #BringBackSubodhYadav.
Subodh was an officer who brought into practice progressive waste management rules. Over 400 citizens from across the city came forward to volunteer and receive training. It meant 2 hours of work a week and all this was possible because of him. We could have actually achieved a garbage free Bengaluru!Malini Parmar, Richmond Town
When he took charge he found that a lot of citizen volunteers were keen and active but they didn’t know how they could help. It was Subodh Yadav’s idea to utilise them. Government officials cannot reach out to every lane and street, so these volunteers pitched in. It worked very well in our area. As citizens became empowered and aware, they questioned the corrupt machinery. Obviously, there were people who didn’t like this, so he has been forced to go.Dr Shanthi, HSR Layout
It is only after we interacted with him that we realised that there were more than 50 memos issued by the government regarding waste management and all this information empowered us as citizens. Nobody ever told us about them. He regularised the bio-methanisation plants that were not functional and cleared long due payments to vendors. The nodal officers, superintending engineers and health inspectors were made a part of waste management and this revamped the whole system!Allen Joseph, Yelahanka
We want him back because he is a man of ideas. He involved citizens because they understood the problem best. He would come up with innovative solutions to solve them. I attended quite a few meetings organised by him. Letting him go would literally mean the garbage mafia winning the battle. We have to make sure he comes back.Meera Arun, Banashankari
The citizen groups are alleging the hand of the garbage mafia behind, calling the decision, “untimely, unjustified and unacceptable.” (Photo: 2Bin1Bag Facebook Page)
And then there are those who campaigned and expressed themselves through change.org
He is an upright officer of impeccable character; the need of the hour as our city is going through the transition.Rohini Pisupati
Bangalore and India need a few hundreds Subodh Yadavs. Don’t take away the only hope we have to deal with this mess. Bring him back.Vidyadhar Hegde
Transfer the guy who issued this transfer because that’s the will of the people! Here’s a guy trying his personal best to do the job and they transfer him because he upsets the contractor mafia!Vijay Y
A counter petition to let go Subodh Yadav has also been started on change.org which has not gained any momentum. But love him or hate him, what everybody agrees on is the desperate need to solve the waste crisis in Bengaluru.
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