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Manoj Kumar reaches the waste dumping site early every morning when the city is still asleep and dawn is just beginning to break. He wheels his bicycle along the empty, silent road, suffused with dim yellow light from overhead street lamps.His job is gruelling, and the hours are unpredictable. As a waste worker, or Safai Mitra, his job is crucial to the city’s functioning, but the conditions under which he works are harsh. He spends hours sorting through waste, sometimes into late evenings. The unpredictability of his work hours and income often leaves him with little or no food for days. Click here for more 

Waste pickers are often known as ragpickers in India’s colloquial language. Estimated between 1.5 million and 4 million, they are unsung heroes in the complex urban waste management system and undertake backbreaking activities like salvaging, sorting, and segregating the recyclable refuse, which is much needed for environmental sustainability. Though important, they remain at the bottom rung of the ladder of collective amnesia and thus often highlight invisibility. The Unseen Backbone of India’s Waste Management Economy India generates over 10% of the world’s total waste, and it is one of the biggest providers  to global waste streams. To manage this colossal burden the country depends on an informal workforce—comprising millions of waste pickers, segregators, and recyclers, often working without official recognition or benefits. The Safai Sathis are most integral part of this ecosystem performing an important function in the process of segregation, cleaning, and dispatching recyclables to material recovery facilities (MRFs). Estimates suggest that between 1.5 million and 4 million waste pickers work across urban India, collecting and sorting waste at every level of the disposal chain—from households to landfills (International Research Journal of Environment Sciences, 2017).  These workers are the backbone of recycling and have greatly contributed to the achievement of India’s high recycling rates of around 70% for PET bottles, higher than any developed country like the USA, where only 31% of PET bottles are recycled.   Operating at the lowest rungs of the urban economy, these workers extract recyclable materials from unsegregated waste streams at landfills, dump sites, and from household waste bins. This invisible  workforce, made up mainly of workers from poor communities, ferrets material up the chain of informal recyclers-to-formal recyclers. Notably, its labor saves scarce resources and reduces the environmental impact from the accumulation of waste inasmuch as 100% of glass waste gets recycled and 50-80% of plastics and paper wastes are recycled. The contributions of the Safai Sathis are not limited to waste management and public health; they also add up to environmental conservation, but there’s often no formal recognition; no job security; and no safety nets for them. This achievement underlines a paradox: it takes an informal, stigmatized workforce to produce that which structured systems can’t deliver. Their efforts ammount to 100% of the country’s recycling and fill crucial gaps in municipal solid waste management (MSWM). Yet this vital contribution unrequited shows a paradox of dependence and despisement.  Navigating Precarity: The Challenges Confronting Safai Sathis  The demographic composition of this workforce is extremely embedded in societal discrimination. WIEGO, among other studies, finds that 90 percent of Pune’s waste pickers are Scheduled Castes, and this corresponds with 90 percent of waste pickers across the nation being women. This triad of caste, class, and gender positions them at the bottom of informal labor hierarchies in cities. Most of them are illiterate, unskilled, and burdened by generational poverty, compounded by their migratory status. An eight-state study (2021-2022) reported that sanitation workers, 88% of whom had migrated from other states for economic sustenance, were faced with bureaucratic hurdles—23% did not have papers to claim ration cards, and 15% did not know how to apply. This exclusion manifests as limited access to government schemes, with only 67% owning bank accounts and a mere 21% of these being Jan Dhan accounts. Health Hazards: A Silent Epidemic The working environment of waste pickers is risky. Prolonged exposure to toxic substances and the repeated strain from doing physical chores are taking heavy health tolls. The 2017 study at the Deonar dumping area in Mumbai enumerated prevalent morbidities among the waste pickers: – Respiratory ailments (28%) like chronic cough and dyspnea. – Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to repetitive bending and lifting of heavy loads. – Gastrointestinal distress, including nausea and dysentery. Attention is sometimes drawn to the Deonar dumping site either by the fires caused by methane emissions or by some controversial municipal proposals, such as herbal deodorants to dispel the stench. However, for the local population, the toxic air, smoke filled homes, and unsanitary disposal systems are a given, not breaking news. For a long, research scholars and advocacy bodies, including the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), have scrutinized the pathetic living conditions in the area. Chandrika Rao, director at Apnalaya, notes, “The life expectancy of people still hovers at 39 compared with an urban average of 73.5 years in Maharashtra.” Besides, a TISS report on the socio-economic vulnerabilities of M-East ward, where the dumping ground is located, revealed alarming levels of malnutrition, respiratory illnesses, and tuberculosis. Ironically, it was Purva Dewoolkar, affiliated with a TISS initiative to clean up the ward, who discovered the biggest perpetrator not in the dump but in a medical-waste incinerator run by a private company behind the depot.This situation underlines the compound nature of health risks to those who labor and reside in close proximity to a waste dump, fueled by environmental degradation and ineffective regulatory controls. To address this, systemic interventions would be needed to prevent long-term negative impacts on vulnerable populations. Inadequate access to protective gear and healthcare keeps vulnerability cycles alive. Sylvia, waste picker, so vividly complains about such systemic apathy: “Healthcare should be universally accessible. Instead, we are treated even worse by medical facilities.”  Social Protection: A Critical Safety Net The systemic exclusion of Safai Sathis (waste pickers)from governmental welfare schemes starkly reflects their marginalisation within public policy frameworks. Migrants form a substantial sector of this workforce, with a 2021 UNDP study finding that 88% of surveyed waste pickers are migrants. This demographic faces myriad barriers to accessing social protection, including the nonavailability of identification documents such as Aadhaar or caste certificates. As a result, 23% of the surveyed waste pickers do not possess ration cards; only 0.5% have caste or income certificates-essential documents for access to social welfare entitlements. Migrant status cuts across inter-state lines – most of the migrant Safai Sathis, recruited from other states, are outside the purview of local welfare schemes due to the absence of inter-state portability in benefits. Systemic challenges have been added to

Wazir, who lives in Curtorim Village, Salcete, runs a repair shop, looks after a family of 3 members, and works diligently towards his commitments and responsibilities, spends his day just as any other person would. Although, what makes him distinct is how he not only thinks about himself and his family, but believes that the environment is a significant part of our being. He caters the belief we all should be adequately responsible for taking care of it. “Perhaps because my own life has largely been devoted to the pursuit of Waste Management and Behaviour Change, I am trying everyday to propound the idea in and around my community” Wazir said. What worries him most is the open dumping. He often initiates the Clean-up Drives, takes up Awareness Sessions with his people and promptly proffers the problems related to waste management in the Gram Sabha meetings. His aim lies not only in putting forth the complaints and challenges faced by the people, but in suggesting the possible solutions to those problems with a nuanced and well rounded perspective. The CEGP Field team went to see him at work, noting with interest the clarity of his thoughts, his zest for social work along with his deep understanding of the challenges of sustainable development in the steepy-sloopy areas he lives in. He had left the team in awe of his commitment to not only direct changes he sought imperative, but himself to be the change the society needs.“It all starts at home”- He says. With exclamation he impressed upon his view that he alone can encourage people for a few months, perhaps even a few years, but to eternally preserve the idea and sustain the interest of people, a dedicated waste-collection system needs to be established. His only wish, he says, is to witness the sight of a vehicle coming to collect their waste, to see his hilly lanes clean and to breathe in fresh, clean air.  

Like an abrupt pause brought upon a symphony of sounds, our lives were struck shut in the year 2020.Yet, an intangible ray of hope continued to outshine all adversities prevailing around the nation. A few minds persisted with the aim to bring about positive changes in our surroundings, no matter the circumstances. Few voices continued affirming with thoughtful words. One amongst those voices was the voice of Melicio Fernandes, a man in his early forties, residing in Deussa, Chinchinim, motivated and supremely mindful. “We used to spend most of our time in the lawn outside, and through a few interactions we shared, I was fortunate to get associated with Mrs. Pereira, who introduced me to the concept of Home Composting, with leaves and kitchen waste. It was transforming for me, I not only got a purpose but also a perspective that entirely changed the way I and my family perceived waste” The CEGP Team went to meet Mr. Melicio for an interview in order to capture his outlook on wet-waste management. While all of them were in his backyard which pleasantly reflected the glory of goodness, fruity smells and aroma of freshly grown vegetables, he took them for a stroll across his lawn, showcasing the organic produce which was a result of home-made compost. He has separate sags for dry and wet compost, one from leaves and other from kitchen and mixed waste, respectively. He, along with his son and wife, manages the waste produced at home. When asked about the possible challenges of the process, with conviction he said, “You only reap benefits. When we walk thrice a day to our yard to put waste into the compost, we exercise. We don’t buy manure anymore, and hence we save. We grow our own fruits and vegetables, we reduce health risk. We don’t burn, we preserve.” Mr. Melicio, while treating the team with his home grown tropical fruits, explained that the only sum of money they had to invest was at the initial stage, after which, there was only maintenance.  He believes people should engage themselves in such activities, because unless we ourselves will not understand the environmental concerns, the coming days will be detrimental. It takes from us nothing, but gives us a lot from what we consider as nothing.

Lourdes Pereira, an inspiration to people around, a protagonist to many documentaries, an expert, an environmentalist, a plant lover, a woman who speaks volumes of her dedication towards environmental preservation. With her 15 years of experience in home composting, she raises concerns on waste management and how to utilise the kitchen and wet waste, and on leaves composting, understanding that Goan houses have lawns, mostly covered with leaves. She is renowned in her neighbourhood, the lanes of Ward 9, Deussa, Chinchinim, resound with her name when someone talks about sustainability and environment. Mrs. Pereira produces enough to nourish the plants of her campus and also gives away to people reaching out to her, making sure that when they leave they are versed with the concept, necessity and importance of managing their own waste through home composting. “People just need to put in a little efforts, if I can do it, anyone can, we have spaces, every household produces kitchen waste, we just have to know where the waste goes, once we get that clear, other things will be sorted”. She congratulated on the efforts taken up by the CEGP Foundation on Reduction and management of waste through the SAIM initiative and the awareness and sensitization being created by the CEGP Team. She wishes to see a larger impact and was generous enough to offer her support wherever, whenever needed.

As the CEGP Team concluded an Awareness Session at Camurlim Village, Salcete, Rusikesh, one of the field team members, was walking around the green expanse belonging to Mrs. Poornima Sawant. A lady in her mid 50s, who owns a crown with many jewels. Being the President of a Self Help Group (SHG) “Navi Disha”, and an exemplary Community Resource Person (CRP). Upon tracing the lengths of the picturesque setting for a while, Rushi came across a few fence-like structures filled with brown dry leaves. Evidently Intrigued, he asked Mrs. Poornima, “Do you practise Composting, already?” With a slight laugh she replied, “For 2 years now, but you all made me learn a little more today.” As they start dwelling into conversations, touching topics related to her experiences, learnings and sharing, they get to know that she initially started composting in a small Vase, and gradually as she read and learned more about it, she started Home Composting at a large level. She explained how she uses her kitchen waste and dried leaves to create compost. “Nothing that holds the slightest amount of value gets discarded under this roof. We should know the value, the richness, and most importantly, the capacity waste holds, once used with mindfulness” says Poornima. Each of her potted plants, trees and lands are nourished with the compost she prepares, giving a lush green shine to her blue villa. Proffering this idea to her neighbours, she takes great pride in her revered ways of contributing to the society, upholding and justifying the true essence of the name of her Self-Help Group, Navi Disha.

While our team executives, Yogesh and Atish were out for the baseline survey, they reached Krishna Nagar Colony, where they were resounded by echoes of Vicky’s name, like prayers being chanted in a village. A middle-aged man took them to his place, and that is how we discovered our first Community Mobilizer, Vicky Sawariya. Vicky, a resident of AC Nagar, Faridabad, has been raising his voice for the people of his community, working for them and bringing government services to them. When we met him, it was nothing but sheer happiness on his face, when he witnessed such an initiative being implemented for SafaiSaathis, “My people” as he says. Since then he has been attached to the CEGP Foundation and Utthaan, an initiative by UNDP India and Coca-Cola India. On an afternoon in May, Vicky called Yogesh, and with his throat welled up and choked voice, he said “Papa ka operation ho gaya hai bhaiya, jald hi ghar aa jayenge. Bhaiya aap log nahi hote toh hum kahan jate, kya karte! Bhaiya, aap wale Ayushman se hi ilaaj karwaya hai.” (“Papa’s operation is a successful brother. He will be back soon. If you hadn’t been there, what would I have done? Where would I have gone? The operation was done by the Ayuhsman card you made.”) 2 months ago, when we were in AC Nagar, we met Kailash Sawariya, Vicky’s father, he told us then, about his ill health, and within a month his condition critically deteriorated. But in the very first camp that we organised in Faridabad, we got many SafaiSaathis in AC Nagar, linked with Social Protection Schemes and PMJAY was amongst them, 50+ individuals along with Kailas Sawariya were facilitated with the Ayushman Card and Abha Card. Through that, Vicky was able to register his father under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme and access the necessary medical treatments without worrying about the financial burden.  Vicky’s story is one amongst the many stories that are a testament to the beautiful impact that UTTHAAN has and the supporting role played by the many implementing organizations like ours, the CEGP Foundation