By Matters India Reporter
Hyderabad, Nov 7, 2023: Official recognition as essential workers, registration, identity cards, and setting up a helpline app to address workplace harassment were some demands from the garbage collectors of Hyderabad.
More than 500 garbage collectors met November 5 to highlight their pressing demands and the lack of their basic rights and entitlements as they keep the southern Indian city clean and healthy.
The meeting decided to present their demands as a memorandum to the Telangana chief minister. The memorandum also demanded the garbage pickers enumeration by the municipal and state labor department authorities.
The meeting was organized by the Montfort Social Institute, India Network for Basic Income Foundation, and WorkFREE, a research project based at the University of Bath, United Kingdom.
Brother Varghese Theckanath, director of the Montfort institute that hosted the convention, regretted that the garbage collectors are often excluded from events, such as the World Environment Day celebrations or when the city receives awards for cleanliness, despite their vital role in maintaining its cleanliness. He said collectivization is important to claim the rights and put forth the demands.
Justice B. Chandra Kumar, retired judge of the state High Court, expressed concern over the trend of privatization in garbage collection. He highlighted the government’s shift in responsibility, outsourcing waste management to corporate entities. This shift, he argued, raised questions about accountability and workers’ livelihood rights.
Sarath Davala of the India network said the memorandum represented the collective aspirations of the garbage collectors.
The convention also called for stricter implementation of household-level garbage segregation to reduce the challenges faced by collectors during manual segregation.
The program highlighted the lack of parking space for garbage collectors, people’s refusal to rent houses to them and their slums’ unhealthy conditions. As a major portion of their income is spent on healthcare, the meeting demanded that the government extend Employees State Insurance scheme to them alongside Health, Life and Accident Insurance.
Samuel Anil from Alliance of Indian Waste Pickers and Durga Devi from Hasiru Dala spoke about their efforts in organizing waste pickers in other cities and highlighted the importance of solidarity and collective action. Their sharing showcased the impact of organized efforts in improving the conditions of waste pickers across the country.
Professor Haragopal, an eminent civil society activist, expressed his deep gratitude to garbage collectors for their exceptional service, especially during the challenging times of the COVID-19 lockdowns. He lauded their bravery that prompted them to venture out to serve society while the world stayed indoors.
He hailed them as social warriors, who are the first line defence against diseases and infections in society.
The meeting also noted that women form a large part of the garbage collection community.
Several garbage collectors shared their experiences of discrimination, challenges and concerns as they collect garbage every day.
The children of garbage collectors performed a skit displaying the indignity and discrimination their parents faced at work.
“The event served as a significant platform to amplify the voices of these essential workers, demanding social security, dignity, and fair treatment,” said Brother Theckanath. As Hyderabad’s unsung heroes continue their struggle for recognition and respect, their determination remains unshakable, inspiring the community to acknowledge their invaluable contributions and work towards a more just and equitable society, he added.