The Hindu             04.07.2013 

Recognising their role in managing waste

Anamma S., who works in a dry waste centre in
Kamakshipalya here, says a simple identity card, issued by the Bruhat
Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), made a qualitative difference to her
life.

Before she had this card to prove that she was
a legitimate worker, she says, she was often picked up by the police
when she was picking rags or threatened by residents. “I have had a card
for a year now, and things are really different for me,” she said,
speaking to
The Hindu
on the sidelines of an event held to register waste pickers and give them identity cards.

The
event was organised by Bangalore-based NGO Hasiru Dala in association
with the BBMP. Of the estimated 20,000 waste pickers in the city, about
7,000 had registered themselves for issue of identity cards. Hasiru
Dala’s cofounder Nalini Shekar said they were trying to provide the
waste pickers group health insurance.

The waste
pickers segregate garbage at dry waste collection centres and take it to
recycling centres to sell and earn a living. The event was organised at
Freedom Park to recognise the efforts of this large informal sector,
which contributes substantially to the city’s waste management efforts.
Ms. Shekhar said that when the discourse was about “environmentalist” it
should also include this group of people who work silently to clean the
environment but hardly get any credit.

The focus was
on organising an event, where they gather, enjoy some dance and music,
and enjoy themselves. She explained that the organisation provides the
gear and training to local dry waste collection centres in Bangalore.

Street
plays were organised to educate them on recycling procedures. Surya
Prakash (19), who runs a dry waste centre in HSR Layout, who performed
at the event, said he was happy to be there.

Hasiru
Dala also felicitated N.S. Ramakanth, member of the Solid Waste
Management Round Table, for his efforts in uplifting the lives of waste
pickers in Bangalore.