Ghaziabad local body ostracizes waste pickers, appoints contractors 'violating' 2016 rules

Shashi Bhushan, Ashni Tyagi*
In 2016, the Government of India changed the Waste Management Rules which were being implemented for 15 years. The rules have demarcated certain responsibilities and accountabilities for the executive institutions. However, the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) is silent about them since 2016.
In 2022, three out of five zones of the GMC were given over to private firms in the name of ‘waste management’. For this, GMC receives money. According to the rules which are being violated, the one who works according to the guidelines is the one who has to pay, too.
Under the 2016 rules, it is the responsibility of the municipality to do the work and not to get things done. Yet, GMC is the only executive body in India that is taking money from contractors. The aim of these contractors is only to make as much money as possible.
We know that working in the garbage is no less than a challenge. According to an estimate, a person who works and lives in the garbage lives only a half of her or his life. From this, you can guess how risky the work is.
Waste pickers play a vital role in waste management. Their contribution and importance are recognized in the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). The Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016 recognize them as ‘labourers’ and insist on their involvement in the management of waste. Yet, in Ghaziabad, more than 5,000 waste pickers are employed without any social security schemes and government provisions.
Despite these odds, waste pickers continue to play a key role in the primary collection and segregation of solid waste informally. This is because, in most cases, the formal system of waste management does not recognize the contribution of waste pickers.
These informal waste collectors provide their services to the residents of GMC, as in other and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), without any recognition of their immense contribution to environmentally sound ways of managing solid waste. Their services are utilized by the resident either at a very low cost or in many cases free of cost.
Due to constant ignorance of GMC, informal waste pickers are often subjected to exploitation by contractors in the waste management system at multiple levels. Their livelihood entirely depends upon the sale of recyclables that they recover from the segregation of solid waste.
The 2016 rules recognize that waste is no longer “waste” but a resource that needs to be recovered. That's why a new terminology was used in the new rules -- Material Recovery Facility (MRF). It is clear from this that now waste is considered a resource.
About 50% of the total waste is organic waste, which is composted, 30% goes to the recycling factory in the form of raw material, from where new material is made and used for our needs. Annually 1,63,000 metric tons of waste is produced in India, which has to be managed environmentally. Of this, 50,000 metric tons of waste is recycled.

Yet, the waste pickers’ quality of their lives and livelihood opportunities remain unchanged despite their ability to immensely contribute to the policy documents. They continue to get excluded from the waste management system. In several cases, waste pickers migrate to other states.
For the last 6-7 months, due to the hiring of the contractors in Ghaziabad, the waste pickers face ostracism, as they belong to the Dalit community, a marginalized group which is facing harassment at every step, making them even more marginalized. If the situation persists this could lead to something big. Initially, it was just the contractors who would harass the waste pickers, but now the officials of the municipality too have joined in.
Approximately 10 days back one of the contractors in Ghaziabad confiscated rickshaws and harassed waste pickers. In order for waste pickers to get back their rickshaws and the ‘waste’ material, they have to pay some amount to the contractors. But even after payment of the amount, these were not given to them back, hence they lost their employment and their earning for days.
The Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikari Manch (DASAM) has demanded to stop such harassment of waste pickers, and constitute a Grievance Redressal Cell, as stated in Sec 15 and 23 of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Under the notification of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change number GSR 451 (E), dated the 3rd June 2015 in the Gazette of India, part II, Section 3, sub-section (i), it is possible to raise objections or suggestions on behalf the persons likely to be affected.
Thousands of tons of garbage are generated daily in the GMC area. Thousands of Dalits, tribals, and minorities migrate from villages to cities for employment. They have been running this system. But now henchmen of these contractors from Ghaziabad are forcing the waste workers out of work.
---
*Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikari Manch (DASAM)

Comments

US-China truce temporary, larger trade war between two economies to continue

By Prabir Purkayastha The Trump-Xi meeting in Busan, South Korea on 30 October 2025 may have brought about a temporary relief in the US-China trade war. But unless we see the fine print of the agreement, it is difficult to assess whether this is a temporary truce or the beginning of a real rapprochement between the two nations. The jury is still out on that one and we will wait for a better understanding of what has really been achieved in Busan.

Mergers and privatisation: The Finance Minister’s misguided banking agenda

By Thomas Franco The Finance Minister has once again revived talk of merging two or three large public sector banks to make them globally competitive. Reports also suggest that the government is considering appointing Managing Directors in public sector banks from the private sector. Both moves would strike at the heart of India’s public banking system . Privatisation undermines the constitutional vision of social and economic justice, and such steps could lead to irreversible damage.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Political misfires in Bihar: Reasons behind the Opposition's self-inflicted defeat

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The Bihar Vidhansabha Election 2025 verdict is out. I maintained deliberate silence about the growing tribe of “social media” experts and their opinions. Lately, these do not fascinate me. Anyone forming an opinion solely on the basis of these “experts” lives in a fool’s paradise. I do not watch them, nor do I follow them on Twitter. I stayed away partly because I was not certain of a MahaGathbandhan victory, even though I wanted it. But my personal preference is not the issue here. The parties disappointed.

Celebrating 125 yr old legacy of healthcare work of missionaries

Vilas Shende, director, Mure Memorial Hospital By Moin Qazi* Central India has been one of the most fertile belts for several unique experiments undertaken by missionaries in the field of education and healthcare. The result is a network of several well-known schools, colleges and hospitals that have woven themselves into the social landscape of the region. They have also become a byword for quality and affordable services delivered to all sections of the society. These institutions are characterised by committed and compassionate staff driven by the selfless pursuit of improving the well-being of society. This is the reason why the region has nursed and nurtured so many eminent people who occupy high positions in varied fields across the country as well as beyond. One of the fruits of this legacy is a more than century old iconic hospital that nestles in the heart of Nagpur city. Named as Mure Memorial Hospital after a British warrior who lost his life in a war while defending his cou...

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Shrinking settlements, fading schools: The Tibetan exile crisis in India

By Tseten Lhundup* Since the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala has established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the guardian of Tibetan culture and identity. Once admired for its democratic governance , educational system , and religious vitality , the exile community now faces an alarming demographic and institutional decline.

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

Counterview

Search This Blog