Action Aid India: when the rag pickers were recognized by the government!!

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465 rag picking women were given employment and social security by the Nasik Municipal Corporation (NMC) during Kumbha Mela 2015.

Story of change: over the last two quarters Paryay has been working with ActionAid in Nasik on the issues of the rag picking women. The rag picking community has historically remained invisible to the government. They are one of the most vulnerable and socially backward groups of workers.  During this period the community has been mobilized and they have been made aware about their rights as workers.

During the Maha Kumbh mela which recently concluded on the 25^th of September 2015, the empowered working women demanded employment. Their demand was directed to the NMC health officer. As a result of this demand the NMC appointed 465 rag picking women as ‘safai kamgars’. It was noted that majority of the rag picking women didn’t have bank accounts. The NMC facilitated the opening of ‘zero balance’ accounts for these women. They were paid RS. 267.88/day. They received this on weekly basis. Contribution towards their Provident Fund was made by the NMC. Travel arrangements, too were made by the NMC where busses plied to bring the women from the slums to the ghat and adjacent areas used during the Kumbh Mela.

As a result a community which has been historically been ignored by the government has received a total of RS.7477200 as payment for their labour. They also received social security. Now the community is demanding permanent employment, with full coverage of social security as ‘safai kamgars’ or sweepers in NMC.