From Plastic Pollution to Community Revolution: The Inspiring Story of the Bartan Bank

Saroj Agrawal's Bartan Bank initiative in Odisha empowers rural communities to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainability through a unique utensil-sharing model

In the quiet village of Kurumunda, Odisha, a remarkable initiative is silently transforming lives. The initiative takes the form of a bank: but it's not the sort of bank any of us has ever seen before, nor does it deal in money. This is a bank whose stock-in-trade is a village essential: steel utensils.

This unconventional establishment, known as the Bartan Bank, is the brainchild of Saroj Agrawal, a village sarpanch whose innovative spirit and unwavering commitment to environmental conservation has sparked a movement that may look small, but is very mighty.

Saroj noticed a disturbing trend in her village: an alarming increase in plastic usage, particularly disposable utensils. These disposable utensils were ending up in their fields, being eaten by cattle, and even fouling their water. Something needed to be done, and Saroj, as the Sarpanch, was the one to do it. After numerous conversations with the villagers, Saroj came up with a solution that was both simple and ingenious: a Bartan bank where villagers could borrow steel utensils for celebrations and events instead of resorting to single-use plastics.

Saroj instinctively knew that the solution was a good one: here was a community-driven solution that would not only address the issue of plastic pollution but also foster a sense of environmental stewardship amongst the villagers. Saroj tirelessly advocated for it, rallying support from fellow villagers who shared her vision of a cleaner, healthier environment. Together, they pooled their resources, with 450 individuals contributing Rs. 75,000 as seed money.

What began as a modest endeavor with just 10 utensils has blossomed into a thriving community initiative, boasting a collection of over 300 utensils. Today, the impact of the Bartan Bank extends far beyond its humble beginnings. By encouraging the use of reusable utensils, the initiative has significantly reduced plastic waste in the village, mitigating pollution and safeguarding the well-being of local ecosystems. Moreover, the adoption of steel utensils has curbed the unfortunate deaths of animals caused by ingesting plastic waste; a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of all living beings.

In addition to its environmental benefits, the Bartan Bank has also brought about economic savings for villagers because borrowing from the Bartan bank is far cheaper than renting utensils from distant villages!

It's hard to keep a good idea down, and the Bartan bank idea has already grown legs, inspiring other villages to replicate the model. Saroj herself is planning to replicate the Bartan bank initiative in the remaining 8 villages of her panchayat, giving the people of Kurumunda another reason to be proud of this small but impactful initiative, and their beautiful, plastic pollution free village.

To honor stories like Saroj Agrawal and the Bartan Bank, AU Small Finance Bank presents Badlaav Humse Hai Season 2, in association with Network18. Just like the first season, Season 2 celebrates 25 stories that showcase changemakers whose unsung work has helped carve out cultural identities for communities, lifted them out of poverty; created access where only barriers existed; shown communities how to work with nature to create true sustainability; changed hearts and minds about othered communities; changed the lives of many through economic, social or educational empowerment, and much, much more.

Watch Season 2 of Badlaav Humse Hai for more stories like this one. You may also catch up on all the wonderful stories from Season 1.