Safai Mitra: Ensuring Livelihoods of Waste Collectors in Patna Presented by: Azad Oommen Director, Communications American India Foundation Feb 9, 2008 ASEI SoCal Annual Conference

National Overview Approx 1.5 million – 2 million rag pickers in India –Numbers are hard to estimate Average earnings of between $1 and $2 a day Typically, they have no contractual employment and are part of the “informal sector,” i.e. no guaranteed wages, social security benefits etc.

Patna Overview Patna has an overall population of 1.7 million people In surveys conducted by Nidan in a sampling of Patna slums (2006): –Approximately 70 percent of respondents work in the informal sector –Median income of Rs per family per month –75 percent do not have any waste collection facility

Solid Waste Management in India Traditionally, in Indian towns disposal of Solid Waste is done through a centralized facility. As the town grows, the distance covered for transportation of waste increases rendering the cost of collection prohibitive. To reduce the transportation cost, a decentralized system is the preferred option. In such a system, the waste is collected from households, segregated (preferably at the source or at least at the time of collection) and transferred to a neighborhood treatment facility.

Nidan’s Swacchdhara Model Swacchdhara is a collective business enterprise formed by waste collectors Previously, they worked as individual rag pickers with no livelihood security Comprehensive solid waste management model –Door-to-door collection of waste from households and shops –Contract with municipal corporation for street garbage collection –Vermi-composting of organic waste –Recycling Funded by a $89,000 AIF Grant in 2005

Profile of Safai Mitras Safai Mitras receive training in waste management Receive uniforms and identity cards Receive regular pay through their employment by Swacchdhara, which has a predictable revenue stream from its contracts Receive various other social security benefits such as micro-insurance, micro-credit

Door-to-door waste collection Resid ents & Estab lishe mnts Door to oor waste collec tion by Safai Mitra Dry waste/ Recyclables Wet waste/ Organic Ward level Vermi-composting Wsate segre gated at Sourc e on trolle ys Scrap dealers Land-fillRejects

Waste collection from households

Street cleaning

Decentralized waste collection

Recycling

Safai mitras employed Door-to-door collectors Street Cleaners Vermi-compost68 Recycling24 Total333387

Units covered Units (House/Shop)22,38048,000 Hotels24 Institutions1822 Wards (for street cleaning)33

Livelihood impact ~400 waste pickers have been directly employed as safai mitras in providing waste management services Safai mitras were made salaried employees and received various financial services. Provided social security coverage (pension, insurance etc.) Monthly income rose from Rs 1500 to Rs 2800 per month ~600 other waste pickers have been organized into self- help groups

Other impacts Work hours regularized Improved working conditions as they deal with waste at source Decrease in the incidences of diseases like diarrhoea, fever, skin infections, jaundice etc. Rise in social status –Less harassment as they are easily identifiable by their uniforms

Future of the model Expanding from 3 wards in Patna to 11 wards in Patna Further expansion to Muzaffarpur, Gaya, Samastipur, Vaishali, Katihar Proposed coverage of 60,000 additional households for door-to-door waste collection Additional 1,000 Safai Mitras to be employed

Takeaways Efficient waste management models are possible Waste management models can generate revenue Waste management models can provide sustainable livelihoods for workers