LIVELIHOOD AND COLLECTIVES

A STUDY OF WASTE PICKERS IN HYDERABAD

Submitted By

Abijeet Keshav
MBA In Rural Management, KIIT
Bhubneswar
Table of Contents:

 Overview of the Project

 Objectives
 Tools and Methodology
Population of the study, Research Site, Data Collection, Limitation of the study

 Findings and Analysis

Socio-Economic Profile, Occupation of waste pickers at their city of origin, education qualification, Migration patterns,
factors and reasons, Impact on health and also impact of COVID on their livelihoods
 Conclusion
 Recommendation
 Overview of the Project

 India generates 15 million tonnes of plastic waste every year but only one fourth of this is recycled due to lack of a
functioning solid waste management system.
 Developing a sustainable model for plastic waste management in Hyderabad.
 This project is sponsored by UNDP and being implemented by Ramky foundation in various parts of Hyderabad.
 It has positively impacted more than 30,000 households across Hyderabad.
 This project aims to:
o Improve the socio-economic conditions of 30,000 plus Safai sathis (waste pickers )
o Better manage more than 85,000 MT of plastic waste
o Demonstrate a working model of Swachhta Kendras, social and technical approaches with strong governance mechanisms
o Create a socio-technical model for taking plastic waste management from informal to formal economy
Objectives of the study

 To develop support and implement an economically sustainable model (ESM) for packaging plastic
waste management

 To minimize negative impacts and risks to environment and to human health in India, by enhancing
sustainable Plastic Waste Management practices

 To improve the socio-economic conditions of waste pickers

Tools and Methodology

 Population if the study

o The respondents are urban waste pickers living in Hyderabad
o 33 personal interviews were conducted
o Age limit of respondents - 20 to 60 Years
 Research Site
Kukatpally, Miyapur, Bharat nagar, Mehdipatnam and Hi-tech city
 Data Collection
Qualitative and quantitative research methods, conduct in depth interview
Findings and Analysis
 Study revolves around the emerging problems to highlights the importance and the gravity of issue based
on the livelihood patterns of waste pickers.
 Most of the respondents are illiterate and were engaged in agricultural practices at their city of origin.
 The reason for opting this profession is that they believe that this profession doesn’t require prior
experience or skill set
 Socio-Economic Profile
 Sex Ratio
Sex Ratio
Out of 33 respondents, 61% (n=20) male and 39% (n=13) female
Fe
 Most of the respondents are illiterate m
al M
al
 Primary source of income was agriculture at their native. e
39 e
% 61
%

Educational Qualification Occupation at their Origin

High School 2 Business 11

artisan 1
Elementary 8
Agriculture 9

Illiterate 23 Agri labor 12

Income of Respondents

 Out of 33 respondents, the average daily income of most of the respondents (n=15) is around Rs.150-
300
 10 respondents earn between Rs.350-500 and other 8 respondents revealed that they earn Rs.550 or
more.
 The kinds of income these people gain is daily, fluctuating and not permanent.

Avearge daily income (In Rupees)

14

10
8

100 150-300 350-500 550 and above

MIGRATION PATTERNS, FACTORS AND REASONS

 Most of the respondents are seasonal migrants and have been migrated from Kurnool.
 Reasons of migration are financial constraint, crop Failure, Inadequate agriculture related
resources, low daily wage at their city of origin.
 The other agri-related issues are land size, drought, low rainfall, lack of irrigation facilities

Reasons for Migration

Migration Pattern
18 crop
less work failure
available 15%
27%
less
resource
available
money
problem
24%
4
3 3 3 33%
2

Kurnool mehboobnagar kadappa anantpur nizamabad vikarabad

Why this profession?

o 46 % of the respondents chose this profession to support their family financially which is followed by money problem
and in debts.
o o According to the respondents, this profession by suggested by their relatives, family members, friends and
neighbours
 Potential Risk on the health of Waste Pickers

 As per the respondents, in this dumping yard, all kinds of waste is dumped, including biomedical
waste.
 these wastes are transported to the dumping yard by Lorries, tractors, dumper placers and mini-
lorries
 Several stray animals (such as pigs, dogs, cows and rats and also birds including crows, kites etc.)
are found inside the dumping sites.
Impact of COVID on Livelihood
 The lack of income during the lockdown manifested in the acute hunger that most of the urban rag
pickers faced in Hyderabad.
 38 percent of the respondents faced difficulties in terms of basic necessities such as food during
pandemic.
 Study also states that they faced a severe obstacles for accessing essential medicines and healthcare
services.
 Therefore, they are stepping out for work for their survival, irrespective of protections for their own
safety and health.
Conclusion
 In current times, waste pickers are facing immense health and economic threats in the city.
 Largely migrants belonging to lower castes, they live in slums with very poor infrastructure for
services.
 Most of them are informal waste pickers and currently recycle 20 per cent of the total waste
generated in Hyderabad.
 They provide innumerable benefits to the city, such as lowering pressure on landfills, reducing the
quantity of waste for incineration and preventing waste from collecting in streets and near homes,
thus maintaining public health.
 The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdown has affected waste pickers badly. Since the
pandemic hit, most haven’t been able to go out and collect waste. This led to absolute hunger and
deprivation.
Recommendation

Based on the studies undertaken, the following suggestions are drawn:

 The number of covered community bins needs to be increased in each sector and placed at suitable
locations with regular monitoring.
 The municipal authorities and other civic bodies can explore the possibility of utilizing these rag-pickers
in a manner which will be mutually beneficial to the rag-pickers and society.
 They can be properly educated and trained to protect themselves from unhygienic practices and addiction.
 Either the Government or non-governmental bodies (NGOs) should make suitable proposals to monitor
and make use of these unorganized rag-pickers.
Thank You !!