Today, Lakshmi runs
the DWCC at Sagayapuram ward. In doing so, she draws from 27 long years
of experience as a rag picker. So, even as civic authorities and
citizens grapple to understand and work with the nitty-gritty of garbage
segregation, she points out that thousands like her have been working
in this informal sector for years. “We learnt to execute this long
before the palike did,” she says.
The DWCC here is
staffed by Hasiru Dala, an NGO that has been entrusted the job by
another NGO Grace, which has signed an MoU with the Bruhat Bangalore
Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Before we begin the
interview, she insists that we see the records she has maintained in
multiple books. These records pertain to the garbage segregated in 27
apartments in her ward. Up until a month ago, Lakshmi recalls how her
work day involved roaming the streets near Banaswadi desperately looking
for some “treasure” in the mounds of garbage piled up in street
corners. Her job now is more streamlined as she only has to come to the
DWCC and segregate the dry waste brought here before selling it to scrap
dealers. “Earlier I would walk around the neighbourhood hoping to find
some scrap in piles of garbage. But, now people come to me and give me
their waste. Everything has changed. But most importantly, my job now
gives me respect and dignity.”
No vehicles
Lakshmi
and other waste pickers at the DWCCs across the city earn Rs. 200 a
day, which is supplemented by selling the segregated waste. Although the
working conditions have changed for Lakshmi, she says that they
continue to face several hurdles at work. “Every Thursday, along with my
friend, I collect around 150 kg of dry waste and we have to physically
carry it back to the DWCC. This is tiring. It would help if the BBMP
gives us a loan or a subsidy to buy a vehicle.”
About
her ambitious business venture, she says she dreams to make ward 60
(Sagayapuram) a zero-garbage ward. “And if my business works well, I am
even willing to pay income tax,” she signs off with optimism and hope in
her eyes.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/lpvfqwz
Post a Comment