Priyansha Chhetri

Engaged communities and institutions to develop a waste-management solution for local streams, securing a conditional collaboration with Plastic Fischer.

Another powerful story of change from the Trailblazer Fellowship is that of Priyansha, a second-year college student from Kurseong College. During her community immersion and problem-identification process, Priyansha observed that large amounts of waste and garbage were being dumped into local jhoras (small rivers and streams) across Kurseong. Through conversations with residents and field visits, she understood that this issue was not only affecting the environment but was also contaminating water sources used by communities for daily needs, creating serious public health concerns. 

Priyansha proposed the idea of installing TrashBoom systems in selected waterways. These floating barriers are designed to stop and collect waste flowing through streams before it spreads further downstream. Over the course of the fellowship, she formed collaborations with the NSS unit of her college, engaged with the Engineering Department of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), and initiated conversations with the local municipality. One of the biggest challenges she faced was understanding the technical feasibility and implementation process of TrashBoom systems in the hilly terrain of Kurseong. However, through continuous learning, networking, and persistence, she was eventually able to establish a conditional collaboration with Plastic Fischer, an organisation known for working on river waste management solutions. The organisation agreed to support the installation of the TrashBoom system, provided that the local community demonstrates ownership and participation in maintaining the initiative. 

Priyansha’s journey reflects the spirit of the Trailblazer Fellowship, empowering young people to identify deeply rooted local problems, build collaborative solutions, and engage communities in creating long-term change. Even as a current fellow, she has demonstrated remarkable perseverance, systems thinking, and leadership in navigating institutions and building partnerships around an issue that directly impacts public wellbeing.