Bengaluru: For a boy who didn’t even know his second name was Ahmed till he went back to the school he had barely coasted through, Mansoor has spoken at not one but eight venues at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP 21 in Le Bourget, France, addressing world leaders on the importance of waste segregation.
“I had no idea that I would ever go to France, let alone travel abroad in my life,” said city ragpicker Mansoor Ahmed, (32), a fifth standard pass-out, and a green warrior, convincing Bengalureans to segregate waste. “I have hardly studied but I have the all important job of collecting garbage. I am extremely fortunate that I was given the opportunity to address some of the top minds on environment. Words fail me,” an emotional Mansoor said.
“I didn't know anything about climate change until I came to Le Bourget, where the importance of my work and what ragpickers could do to help stop environmental degradation, hit me. I feel so proud of my work now,” he said.
As much as a lesson on environment, Mansoor also for the first time knew what his full name was. “I never knew whether it was Ahmed or Pasha, so all my documents have just Mansoor in it. It is only after I went to my school for the transfer certificate that I came to know my surname was Ahmed,” he said with a hearty laugh.
Mansoor, who has been speaking at some eight events at the conference, said, “I was asked about my ‘Donate Dry Waste’ project, the training I went through and the people's reaction to the campaign.”
Once back, Mansoor is eager to train his workforce and educate them about his learning at the conference.
He had a word of advice for Bengalureans. “Ragpickers too are human. Bengalureans should ensure that they dispose of waste in such a way that it does not cause inconvenience to ragpickers,” he said.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
