Locked down, not locked out – waste-pickers of Pune
Pune, 15 April 2020 -Way back in 2008 waste pickers in Pune resolved to forsake the garbage bins and reconstitute themselves as service providers through their cooperative, SWaCH. Today their confidence in themselves is validated by the citizens whom they serve as the city copes with COVID19. A bureaucrat had once said “the work that waste pickers do is the input, good health is the outcome”. How true that is in the context of the spread of the virus. It is the SWaCH members who stand out in their green uniforms, gloves, masks and orange push carts on the empty roads in the locked down city as they go about their business of collecting waste from each household. The SWaCH worker and staff have no more or no less immunity to the virus than other residents of the city. It is their brave never say die resolve that keeps them going.
We are overwhelmed by the support shown by citizens to SWACH waste pickers and staff. Middle income, slum communities and upper income residences have all stepped forward offering what they can- rations, personal protective equipment, water to wash, a cup of tea, and many a warm smile and words of encouragement and love- all of which go a long way in building the morale of the waste pickers who are currently recording 97 percent waste collection attendance despite all odds.
Several corporators have also stepped forward and offered rations, and masks, gloves and soaps at their own cost. Some citizens have started online petitions, and social media campaigns- committing to pay the waste picker and imploring others to do so, and even urging the city, state and central government to cover them under insurance and offer other benefits. Artists, stand – up comedians, corporates, and by- standers have stepped forward to show their whole hearted support, respect and validation of the work of waste pickers.
There is the occasional reluctant citizen, the complainer, those who have not noticed us, worse still, look at us with disdain, but when we are showered with encouragement from so many, we can ignore the few of those, unisoned the waste picker representatives of each prabhag, over the weekly update that happened over a conference call!
More than 1100 of the 3500 waste pickers of SWACH have been given some form of support from the citizens they service. Physical distance may have increased in compliance with the prescribed safe practices, but the social distance between the SWaCH collectors and the residents has indeed decreased.
Encouraged by this SWACH proposes to start a “citizen -waste picker support and solidarity chain”, where citizens can register online, and offer to support the waste pickers in their neighbourhoods, with specific requirements, going beyond immediate financial, or personal protective requirements, to pave the way for a more meaningful supportive relationship that can sustain both through good and bad times in the future
Interested citizens are requested to call 9765999500
