KAGAD KACH PATRAKASHTAKARI PANCHAYAT, PUNE

Occupational Health and Safety of Waste Pickers

WORK CONDITIONS OF FREE ROAMING WASTE-PICKERS

Long work hours Long distances Accidents while climbing into garbage

containers Harassment by police, pedestrians, municipal

workers- prone to sexual harassment Dogs, pigs, cows and insects at containers-

prone to bites, diseases Addictions- tobacco common among women Lack of any facilities- water, toilets

FORMATION OF SWaCH

SWaCH Cooperative - demand to formalize the wastepicker’s role in the city’s solid waste management, improve working conditions and reduce their vulnerability to privatization of waste related services

CHANGES IN WORK CONDITIONS

Access to waste at source Lesser work hours, much better

conditions, recognition of work Gear and Equipment-Pushcarts, Gloves,

raincoats, masks

Organic Waste -- Composting & Biogas

• Access to segregated waste

• Resource recovery• Higher earnings

… use of Mechanical Equipment by women

Space for sorting recyclables

Reduced harassment- authorities Designated space to recover materials Protection from the sun and the rain Space to store water, eat lunch Higher income due to bulk sales

Health insurance and other interventions

•JAN AROGYA HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY• Premium paid for by the PMC• Now working towards inclusion into RSBY

• TETANUS IMMUNISATION- access to health care from the PMC

EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSBILITY

Disposal bags for used Sanitary napkins

made by waste-pickers of SWaCH. Need the same for

diapers

Parath Pathwa – “Send it back” drive as part of the CHUK DE-the right way

campaign in Pune.

Thank you

Film on EPR