A fledgling community soars high

The waste management programme initiated by One74 in MRC Nagar provides indirect benefits during the pandemic

On hindsight, residents of One74, a 275-unit gated community in MRC Nagar, had a short window to get to know each other, meeting in person. The community was born in 2018, and between then and the first lockdown of 2020, not many hours had passed.

“We were roughly one-and-half years old when the Coronavirus struck,” says Devendra Gupta, secretary, One74 Apartment Owners Association.

However, as it turned out, the community had had sufficient engagements to enable them to work as a close-knit team and stave off the curveballs the pandemic sent their way.

They had connected over two integral aspects of community living: festivals and joint waste management.

“From day one, we ensured that we celebrated all the festivals,” reveals Devendra.

These interactions were doused in the soft glow of bonhomie, and all parties involved in it would be coming out wreathed in smiles.

“Trash talk” can leave a musty odour, especially when the community is trying to put systems in place for the first time.