Transform any place of work to create abundance of energy

Peenya is the largest Industrial estate in Asia. Strangely it has no woman walking even in the farthest of its corners, and even if they did, it might just happen to be the wives of the manufacturers or the workers.And the place where my machine was being fabricated was not really accessible by cabs, forget buses or autos. And even if I did manage to get one, One kilometer from my destination, there would be a huge lorry standing in the middle of the road. Well, existence in Peenya is easy. Nobody troubles anybody. If your lorry stands in the middle of the road, so be it forever. This is the way they progress. This was the 1 km distance I had to walk to reach my manufacturer's shopfloor, A muddy road lined up with small manufacturing units . I had been there once with my manufacturer and was met with stares and invited stares(ie. Others are called if they have missed to stare). So the next day on I had to come on my own and check on the machine the whole day. The first day I gulped down any fear I might have. I went ahead, past the stares and into the shop floor. Work started. First nobody recognized my presence, I was a girl. Period. First day was not much of a work. I started talking and mingling. Interaction with an outsider was rare. Interaction with a girl was just beyond thoughts.

Day 2 was not very different.

Day 4,5 I bonded with almost all the workers and the fabrication site supervisors. I knew what each one of them was good at by then. Some one was an expert only in welding, while the other in cutting. While one was only in design, the other was completely in fabrication.

A week later, I started having lunch with them. There was this tiny hotel that all the manufacturers went to. And while we had lunch, they shared their concerns and I used to give them ideas. I told them some evident  loopholes in their working  and they took notes of the same.

Sooner, I got to know about all of them, and they shared the passion I had in realizing this project. They understood how much it meant to me. In a week's time, they did not need me to tell them what to do or instruct them.It was as much their priority as it was to me.

Ten days down the lane, they started suggesting me hundreds of ideas on how I could improve my machine. And believe me, They are barely educated but the way they put their brains to use is just astounding. And I think I learnt the most with them.

I learnt to drill holes, I learnt to Disassemble my machine. I learnt the intricacies of manufacturing. I learnt when they delay or take time, it is but genuine as even where you place a bolt needs a lot of thinking. But at the same time, I suggested how they can handover the product when the customer wants in the time frame they have promised, thereby maintaining the relationship. I created a sense of belongingness towards the machine and the impact it carried.

I got one year old waste and fresh waste many a times to the shop floor for testing after completion of fabrication. And obviously, the floor was strewn with litter. Really bad litter. I used to take up the broom there and start cleaning. They always told me not to do that, but I felt it was my responsibility to. They joined me, and together we used to clean the mess.

From strangers who judged me as a girl to coworkers who believed in my ideal to friends who now cared how I go back home, and took every care to ensure am safe. It was a beautiful journey from an idea to a machine that does segregation of MSW, Which was considered as difficult as changing their mindsets.

I also realised that any place of work could be transformed into a place filled with enthusiasm and passion. Any place. I have worked with ragpickers too. But that's in the next story:P.

P. S. The onlookers from other manufacturing units grew tired of staring, and on the day my machine was over, it obviously had all the stares!