Life in the clean lane: Blessy Thomas
** As per a definition released by SWACHH: (Alliance of Waste pickers in India), the term 'Waste pickers' are "those workers whose livelihood depends on informal collection, segregation and sale of scrap. It does not include poor workers such as domestic workers, watchmen, doorstep waste collectors hired by contractors, municipal workers…all of whom may be supplementing their incomes through sale of scrap." We started our interesting journey to learn a bit more about them with Saku, a chirpy eight year old with a piercing innocent smile, who has been picking waste from the time she could barely walk. "My mother used to travel around Panjim collecting garbage. And since there was no one to look after me, she used to take me along. Gradually I began helping her, and now I earn Rs.70 a day," she said. A class that are highly misunderstood, these people prefer to remain under wraps, mainly for safety reasons. However, Munna Bepari, a 43-year-old scrap dealer, enthusiastically spoke to us and gave us a glimpse into their unknown world. "We are the people who clean around forty percent of the city's waste. Moreover, people are happy with us; they also need us." Sitting cheerfully amidst all the scrap, Munna began telling us about the people who work for him. The waste pickers, mostly people from states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and even Rajasthan. They collect garbage from Public dustbins and salvage scrap from the rubbish, which is later recycled through scrap dealers. He also added, "They come here because they can earn around Rs.200 a day, compared to the measly Rs.50 that they would earn in their state. Goa is a good state and they earn better here." Surprisingly, the waste pickers follow a very systematic plan of action while going about with their work. They meet up at around 5:00 a.m. and go to their assigned areas. "Usually we have offices that we label as 'ours' - our regular places," said Dhanamma. After a day's collection, they regroup, unload their piles and sort it out. Waste in the form of paper usually goes to Hubli for recycling, whereas metal scrap is melted at factories in Kundaim. "We want to be a part of society legally. We clean the city, but ultimately are blamed to be the filth of the city. Metro cities like Mumbai have hundreds of scrap yards but no one has any problem," adds Munna. "There is an All Goa Scrap Dealers Association in Margao and one of us is the member from Panaji," said Munna further enlightening us. One look at them and you can see the trials they go through everyday, behind the smile is hidden a tired and humiliated soul. All the elders have the same dream, for their kids to not follow in their footsteps; some have not even revealed their occupation to their children, fearing ridicule. Most of them have their children studying in city schools and are doing well for themselves. While Munna is just one, there are hundreds of faceless ones who silently work from dawn to dusk. How compassionate are we towards them? Don't they deserve the 'Clean Tag' for clearing up our mess? http://www.goapluses.com/fullStory.asp?articleID=GOAP15ART518200764743