Fighting our own battles: Diplomacy is a necessary skill for waste warriors

Gurugram's waste warriors say they face a tremendous amount of resistance from the word go

What can responsible citizens do when faced with civic authorities who largely do not function? Or function in fits and starts? When they can, they vote the municipal leaders out of power. Sometimes, they hold protests. And when pushed beyond endurance, they take matters into their own hands.

A growing number of enlightened professionals in Gurugram has done just that. Faced with sloppy and apathetic waste management by the authorities, 29 condominiums in the Millennium City have started disposing of their own garbage. Almost 10,000 households are part of the effort now.

In almost all the cases, the initial impetus