SWaCH workers agitated against one year temporary extension by PMC
Pune waste pickers agitated against one year temporary extension to SWaCH on November 29, 2021 outside the Pune Municipal Corporation’s headquarters.
Waste pickers from India’s 5th cleanest city seeking a livelihood, Covid subsidy and dignity are left betrayed, insulted and disappointed. 3500 SWaCH waste pickers have been striving hard for the city’s recognition are left with frustration as the temporary extension of one year is what the PMC gave them recently.
stated, “Despite support from 33 lakhs citizens and 114 corporators, PMC’s decision of temporary extension is shocking. MP Supriya Sule, MLC Mohan Joshi, Mayor Murlidhar Mohol promised us and to senior union leader Dr. Baba Adhav to fulfill our demands in the protest held in July and. The leaders didn’t keep their promise and broke the trust of citizens, corporators and party leaders. Now, they are openly talking about imposing a contractor system. Our sisters lost their lives due to Covid. We worked on prioritizing the city’s health despite no renewal of the contract. One-year extension is a clear betrayal by the PMC. We are taken for granted; our organization is being insulted; we are really disheartened.”
Dr Baba Adhav, Senior Union Leader expressed his disappointment. He said, ‘Even after frequent discussions about waste pickers’ livelihoods and their environmental and economic contribution towards the city with leaders from all political parties, PMC’s decision of one-year temporary extension and proposition of private contractor system is hurtful. No one can deny the contribution of SWaCH waste pickers in the Swachh Survekshan national award the city recently received. With broken promises, we now feel betrayed. This is an attempt at moral discouragement. I appeal to the citizens that they should treat this matter with utmost seriousness. We are going to take further steps with the vision to stop their horrific play with waste pickers’ lives.’
“It is rather unfortunate that the general body of the Municipal Corporation has taken a decision to extend the contract with SWaCH only for ONE year. The SWaCH is an initiative to integrate the erstwhile unorganized ‘Ragpickers’ into a formalized group and given them a means of livelihood in a more dignified way.The initiative has been acclaimed and recognised internationally and nationally. As a Punekar I feel proud when it is often mentioned as a best practice in SWM even in the Parliament. Would it be ignorance, apathy or insensitivity to keep the sword hanging on the heads of thousands of members who collect our garbage house to house, each day come heat or rain. I wish good sense prevails and the members reconsider their decision and extend the contract for a longer term – pitfalls, if any, in the present system can always be addressed through dialogue”, said Vandana Chavan, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha.
