Wular lake ragpicker is now Srinagar municipality’s brand ambassador
SRINAGAR : Bilal Dar, an 18-year-old ragpicker who earned his living by picking up waste from the Wular Lake in Bandipora district of north Kashmir, has been appointed the brand ambassador of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).
“He will be our brand ambassador. He is an inspiration for everybody. He has been earning his livelihood by cleaning the Wular Lake and removing garbage, used bottles and shoes among other things for many years now,” said Dr Shafqat Khan, SMC commissioner.
For almost five years now, Dar, a resident of Laharwarpora of Bandipora district, has been removing plastic trash from the lake and selling it for around ₹150-200 per day, which helps him support his mother Mughali and two sisters.
Dar’s father Mohammad Ramzan Dar, a ragpicker on the Wular himself, died of cancer in 2003.
The 18-year-old, who left school after Class 9 to support his family, not only earned his livelihood through his job but also kept the Wular clean.
Media reports have estimated that Dar collected over 12,000 kg trash annually.
As a brand ambassador of the SMC, Dar will be given a special uniform and a vehicle to go and meet people in both commercial and residential areas.
“He will tell them the story of his life, his work in Wular and his commitment to environmental causes. Most importantly, he will talk to people and sensitise them about environmental issues, cleanliness and garbage disposal,” Dr Khan said.
Wular Lake is one of Asia's largest fresh water lakes.
It is also one of India’s 26 wetlands that have been designated as having international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO. The picturesque lake faces serious environmental threats due to encroachment, pollution and infestation by weeds.
Dar shot to the limelight when a documentary film on his life and work on the Wular titled Saving the Saviour by Jalal-ud-din Baba was awarded at the 6th National Science Film Festival in Mumbai last year.
“Of course, it fetches me some money but it also keeps the Wular clean. We drink this water, it has to be clean,” the teenager had said in the film. Talking about his new post, Dar said, “I am very happy. I will go around as the brand ambassador and tell people that if we keep our surroundings clean and follow garbage disposal mechanism, it will benefit all.”