In a move to recognise the indirect contribution of ragpickers in keeping the city clean, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has given out identity cards to waste pickers.
In a move to recognise the indirect contribution of ragpickers in keeping the city clean, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has given out identity cards to waste pickers.
With this, the BBMP has attained the unique distinction of being the first urban local body to issue identity cards to the waste pickers and itinerant buyers, under the leadership of commissioner Siddaiah.
This is the first step towards providing legitimacy for a century-old occupation of waste picking.
Mayor R Sharadamma distributed 200 ID-cards to waste pickers representing eight zones in the city.
The first waste-pickers' samavesha (conference) in Bangalore was inaugurated by mayor Sharadamma, leader of ruling party BBMP Nanjundappa; deputy commissioner (health), Yelahanka, Ramchandra Murthy; waste picker from Frazer Town, Lakshmi and Anslem Rosario from Waste Wise Trust, an NGO.
Sharadamma said that ragpickers and itinerant buyers of Bangalore collect and recycle about 20% of the municipal solid waste, thus reducing the cost of BBMP in collection, transportation and processing of solid waste in the city. Nanjundappa saluted the hard work and determination of the waste pickers.
Lakshmi, a waste picker, received a thunderous applause for speaking on behalf of waste pickers.
The event was organised at the Glass House of BBMP office on Tuesday. There are about 15,000 ragpickers and drainage cleaners in the city.
Studies reveal that about 1.5 lakh people in India make their living by picking rag and selling scrap. These people are also doing a service to the nation by keeping the roads and alleys clean.
Studies conducted by the World Bank have revealed that one per cent of the urban population across the globe, makes a living by picking waste and selling scrap.
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