From being waste pickers whose work went unrecognised to becoming
waste managers, women have quietly been etching an unusual success story
in Bengaluru. A sizeable number of the 181 dry waste collection centres
(DWCCs) in the city are managed by women, who were mostly waste pickers
earlier.

The lives of these women — such as Subbamma, who went
from worrying about her next meal to becoming a guide of sorts for local
residents about waste segregation, and Geetha, who overcame initial
challenges to successfully lead a team of eight men — have been
transformational.

Nalini Shekar from Hasiru Dala, an organisation
that helps these waste pickers, said nearly 30% of the DWCCs under them
are managed by women. It was this organisation that pushed the Bruhat
Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to issue identity cards to waste
pickers and allowed them to manage the DWCCs that were set up across the
city.

Once the women gain confidence, the memorandum of
understanding and work orders are transferred to their name. Their
journey and relationship with waste has been remarkable, so much so that
many of them are now leading “respectable lives” by their own account.
Overdraft facility has been extended to the savings bank accounts of
these women. “The overdraft facility of up to Rs. 1 lakh helps these
women manage the centre much better, as it helps cover the running cost
of the centre. So far, 10 women have utilised this facility,” said Ms.
Shekar.