Campaign partner:
Safai Sena Welfare Foundation 
Decision makers:
The Central government
Delhi Government
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)
Demands:
1. Health and Safety Gear for Waste pickers:
● Provision of two N95 masks per month (for waste pickers and their families and face
protection screens for all waste pickers and those involved in any form of waste
management.)
● Annual health checkups focusing on eye, throat, and lung health, with priority access
to treatment at Delhi’s government hospitals and a dedicated quota at private
hospitals for free/subsidized treatment, including tests and medicines.
2. Financial Compensation for Unhealthy Air:
• When the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 300, no waste picker will be outdoors at work. This
also reduces our monthly income. Therefore, the government must make compensatory
payments for waste pickers on days when the AQI exceeds 300, based on minimum wages.
This will be based on the municipal registry of waste pickers. Payments should be made within
30 days to ensure timely support.
3. Implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules:
• Ensure the prompt identification and issuance of ID cards to all waste pickers within municipal
jurisdictions, as required by the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Section 15(d) to
enhance their recognition and access to social protection schemes.
4. Protecting Our Children in schools:
• Installation of high-quality air purifiers in all government schools to ensure our children
breathe clean air during school hours, reducing illness caused by air pollution.
5. Free LPG Cylinders for Waste pickers:
• Each waste picker family must receive one free LPG gas cylinder every month to ensure they
can cook in a safe, smoke-free environment, reducing further exposure to harmful pollutants.
Introduction
Imagine being outdoors, for over 10-12 hours when the Air Quality Index surpasses the 500 or hazardous mark. Studies across the world have shown that prolonged exposure to toxic air can cause adverse health implications. Respiratory diseases, lung infection, asthma and cardiovascular troubles are just a few of them. Yet, there are people who toil day in and day out, breathing in Delhi’s toxic air, to ensure the city is clean.
Over 50,000 Waste pickers, who are the real custodians of the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission, pick up over 2,000 tonnes of glass, metal, paper and plastic everyday, irrespective of the AQI. However, this puts their lives in grave danger. The absence of any protective equipment like masks and shields means they expose themselves to toxins in the air and therefore become vulnerable to health-related illnesses. Missing work, even for a day, means the loss of livelihood. This makes it very difficult for them to sustain themselves or their families.
We are urging the Central government as well as the Delhi government to consider the aforementioned demands to ensure the safety, well-being and dignity of Delhi’s waste pickers. They must get access to protective equipment like masks and shields, priority access to quality healthcare, compensatory payment when the AQI surpasses 300, free LPG cylinders and air purifiers in the classrooms of children to prevent them from falling sick.
These measures will foster inclusive development and a fair and healthy urban environment for everyone!
Campaign partner:
Safai Sena Welfare Foundation
Decision makers:
The Central government
Delhi Government
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)
Demands:
1. Health and Safety Gear for Waste pickers:
● Provision of two N95 masks per month (for waste pickers and their families and face
protection screens for all waste pickers and those involved in any form of waste
management.)
● Annual health checkups focusing on eye, throat, and lung health, with priority access
to treatment at Delhi’s government hospitals and a dedicated quota at private
hospitals for free/subsidized treatment, including tests and medicines.
2. Financial Compensation for Unhealthy Air:
• When the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 300, no waste picker will be outdoors at work. This
also reduces our monthly income. Therefore, the government must make compensatory
payments for waste pickers on days when the AQI exceeds 300, based on minimum wages.
This will be based on the municipal registry of waste pickers. Payments should be made within
30 days to ensure timely support.
3. Implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules:
• Ensure the prompt identification and issuance of ID cards to all waste pickers within municipal
jurisdictions, as required by the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Section 15(d) to
enhance their recognition and access to social protection schemes.
4. Protecting Our Children in schools:
• Installation of high-quality air purifiers in all government schools to ensure our children
breathe clean air during school hours, reducing illness caused by air pollution.
5. Free LPG Cylinders for Waste pickers:
• Each waste picker family must receive one free LPG gas cylinder every month to ensure they
can cook in a safe, smoke-free environment, reducing further exposure to harmful pollutants.
Introduction
Imagine being outdoors, for over 10-12 hours when the Air Quality Index surpasses the 500 or hazardous mark. Studies across the world have shown that prolonged exposure to toxic air can cause adverse health implications. Respiratory diseases, lung infection, asthma and cardiovascular troubles are just a few of them. Yet, there are people who toil day in and day out, breathing in Delhi’s toxic air, to ensure the city is clean.
Over 50,000 Waste pickers, who are the real custodians of the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission, pick up over 2,000 tonnes of glass, metal, paper and plastic everyday, irrespective of the AQI. However, this puts their lives in grave danger. The absence of any protective equipment like masks and shields means they expose themselves to toxins in the air and therefore become vulnerable to health-related illnesses. Missing work, even for a day, means the loss of livelihood. This makes it very difficult for them to sustain themselves or their families.
We are urging the Central government as well as the Delhi government to consider the aforementioned demands to ensure the safety, well-being and dignity of Delhi’s waste pickers. They must get access to protective equipment like masks and shields, priority access to quality healthcare, compensatory payment when the AQI surpasses 300, free LPG cylinders and air purifiers in the classrooms of children to prevent them from falling sick.
These measures will foster inclusive development and a fair and healthy urban environment for everyone!