Eco Cool

Soon, Shanti was on to her very own mission, her NGO. She founded Jansanchar in 2000.

The organisation imparts training to underprivileged women and young girls in slum areas in the capital, in order to turn trash into trendy. The stuff that is made with waste material and discarded cloth material, makes its way to some of the coolest shops in Delhi, including the popular People Tree in Connaught Place. Shanti had always fancied the idea of recycled fashion, but she never thought it would become her profession, mission and life goal one day.

Junk is funk: Shanti Paswan (top left) supplies her eco-friendly creations to popular apparel chains. Pics/Subhash Barolia

"It was not easy to bring slum dwellers together, but I tried all possible ways to encourage them. Right now, I am teaching them the basics and easy-to-learn techniques of art and craft, the art of making junk jewellery and other ways of making products outu00a0 of waste," smiles the crusader. Her organisation also provides jobs to needy women and adolescents.u00a0

Shanti's core workforce consists of 12 women. At least one enthusiast joins her eco-feminist clan daily. Students from top schools visit her for workshops at her NGO in the slums of New Sema Puri every week. A classic case of sustainable feminism.

Log on to www.jansandesh.org for more details

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