Palike I-cards for ragpickers

Alliance of Waste Pickers, a non-governmental organisation brought as many as 15,000 green workers under one umbrella. Nalini Shekhar, an office-bearer told the media here on Monday that ragpickers help the Palike by facilitating recycling of at least 20 per cent of the solid waste going into the dumpyard. She said that the green workers would be employed at dry garbage collection centres to be set up in all wards of the City. “The employment provides them a regular source of income and an opportunity to lead a dignified life,” she said.

The identity card, said Nalini, will help the ragpickers who are often looked at with suspicion. Whenever questioned, they can flash their I-card to establish their identity. She claimed that the initiative by the BBMP is unique in the sense that no other municipal corporation in the country has ever given any recognition to ragpickers.