14-year battle to include waste pickers on ‘unclean occupation list’ continues

If given the go ahead, thousands of children of waste pickers could benefit from the Central scholarship scheme and enable them to get better educational opportunities

Activists working for waste pickers in the city have been fighting a lonely battle with the Ministry of Social Justice for the past 14 years seeking inclusion of waste pickers in the unclean occupation category. If given the go ahead, thousands of children of waste pickers could benefit from Central scholarship scheme and enable them to get better educational opportunities.

The scheme 'Pre-Matric Scholarships to the Children of those Engaged in 'Unclean' Occupations' considers only scavenging, tanning and flaying as unclean activities. The government implemented the scheme in 1977-78.

As per the Ministry's definition, 'Under the scheme, 100 per cent central assistance is provided to state governments/UT administrations to carry out the scheme, over and above their respective committed liability to implement the scheme.'

"Since 1999, activists have been seeking inclusion of waste pickers in the unclean occupation category. In urban India, waste picking is one of the most unclean jobs. If children of waste pickers are given education, at least the next generation of waste pickers can lead a better life," said Dipannita Sen Gupta of Kagaz, Kach, Patra Kastakari Panchyat (KKPKP). Currently under RTE's EWS quota, as many as 41 children of waste pickers are getting education in private schools in Pune.

After efforts by activists in the state, the scholarship for waste pickers' children was granted in 2002, 2003 and 2004. "The scholarship was a state-centre managed scheme. But it was discontinued as the Central government took over the scheme and did not recognise waste picking as an unclean activity," said Gupta.

"Whenever we approach any ministry, they all agree in-principle that waste picking is an unclean activity. But nobody has bothered to categorise waste picking in the official list of unclean activities," added Gupta.

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