Krishna Kalidas

Community Engagement and Waste Management Manager – India

Krishna is a local who grew up in Vizhinjam, one of our target coastal communities in India. Having experienced very challenging conditions as a child, he was offered a rare opportunity to go to school and graduate, then continuing his studies and obtaining a degree in Aviation Maintenance Engineering. Krishna has since worked in various roles related to renewable energy, composting technology and waste management.

Given the enormous community concerns around oceanic and human health, Krishna is excited to be a part of the PCFML team in India to make a difference for the sea and his friends and family who rely upon it for survival. “With the increased use of plastic and human influence marine debris has become a big issue. Plastic waste poses a serious threat to fish, seabirds, marine reptiles and to the future of our community, especially in terms of the health impacts that burning all of this plastic waste creates”, Krishna explained.

His core focus is to facilitate locally-led technologies that can strike a sustainable balance between economic opportunities and environmental protection, addressing pressing issues like waste management, poor fishing practices and community health. As our on-ground waste and community liaison coordinator, Krishna works with local government, the fishing community and businesses to create long-term positive change for his community and other villages across the region. He was our first local staff-member in India and has been a key driver of our ongoing programs. His innovation, resilience and work-ethic have made him an incredibly important addition to our India team.