Chennai: Shakuntala Krishnan, a city resident, doesn’t step out much to buy things these days. Instead, she opens WhatsApp and connects with a community of like-minded people posting items ranging from clothes to bookshelves and electronics for sale every day. The end result, she says, is saved time and cost-effective purchases with minimal effort.The platform that facilitates this for her is named ‘Let’s DeKlutter’, operating through more than 185 WhatsApp groups spanning 170 cities nationwide. Formed by Kiran Gupta in Dec 2020 in Chennai, the venture has grown into a community of 36,000 members across the country. “The aim is to promote reuse of items among the middle class and elite, which subsequently promotes sustainability. By selling and buying used items, excessive manufacturing is curbed and less waste is generated, benefiting the environment,” Kiran told TOI.Though modelled on platforms such as Quikr and Olx, Kiran’s venture is different in one aspect — the platform doesn’t earn a single rupee through transactions. “Every transaction is independently carried out. People log in, they see the product, message the person involved, and proceed with the sale. We merely play the role of a platform-provider,” said Kiran.People have to mention the item name, condition, specifications such as size and type, cost, and the pickup area, with two photos of the product. No videos are allowed. “In some cases, we can sell the product for free or even exchange it for something else. The pickup details are individually agreed upon by the parties involved. Moreover, as the platform is WhatsApp, people of all age groups find it easier to use,” said a city resident who frequently uses the group.In Chennai, seven groups covering all 15 zones operate with 2,050 members. Salem, Madurai, Coimbatore, Yercaud, Mettupalayam, Vellore, and Kumbakonam are other places where DeKlutter groups have been formed. “We kicked off the initiative in Chennai, but it wasn’t successful at first. So, I took the initiative to Gurgaon and saw success there. Later, I relaunched it in Chennai. Today, people trust us for what we are,” said Kiran.
