Once invisible, 42,000 waste pickers now recognised as climate champions under UN project

Long before the national capital wakes up a large force of informal workers begins its day by collecting waste doortodoor sorting every kilogram of it by hand on street corners and silently powering the nations circular economy with little to no recognition though a gap that has begun to closeFor thousands of these workers that recognition has been taking shape slowly since 2020 through a first bank account a growing saving habit and an insurance policy marking a change that is as much about dignity as it is about economic securityEarlier I spent every penny I earned on our immediate needs But now I can save and manage household expenses including food and my childrens education said 48yearold Joginder Kewat a waste worker in DelhiThousands like Kewat are part of project Utthaan an initiative supported by the United Nations Development Programme UNDP and a group of partner foundations that helps India recognise Safai Mitras or waste workers as environmental stewards partners in the circular economy and allies in climate actionThe campaign Planet Starts With People launched on World Environment Day in 2026 gives visibility to these workers placing them at the centre of the climate story alongside others already driving sustainability and resilience but often unseenBefore joining the project I did not have much stability and used to earn around Rs 100 to 150 per day But I have a secure source of livelihood now and I earn more This has made things easier for my family and me I have also learned about some of the government schemes and support available to us Kewat told PTINearly four years into his association with the project he said that his life is noticeably better than before a change that began when the project team visited his household directly conducting surveys and explaining government schemes and support available to workers like himRashida a 40yearold wastepicker who also works at one of the partner foundations of UNDP in Delhi concurredReflecting on how her life changed over the years she described her familys journey from being unaware of government benefits to receiving an eShram card a free LPG cylinder and other supportRashida still sorts the waste her husband collects which involves separating cloth bottles and mattress material from the rest However she said that her work under the UNDP project made things somewhat easier for her family a change shes glad to be part ofThrough Project Utthaan I learnt about some of the government support available to us I got an eShram card got access to a free LPG cylinder and received other benefits I still sort waste but the work at Shakti Foundation has made things easier and I am happy to be working there she told PTIAcross India more than 42000 waste workers are now associated with the project and for each of them that same recognition has arrived in its own way with a shared belief in the renewed dignity of the work they doShabana a 32yearold waste worker and artist who once relied solely on her husbands income described her situation as a strain that grew harder to manage as the cost of living roseThese circumstances led her to join a partner foundation of UNDP where she first learnt about Project Utthaan and gradually began receiving the support available through itWith support through the project I was able to get some of my important documents including my Ayushman card and eShram card Having these documents has made it easier for us to access healthcare Earlier we had to pay for hospital treatment while now we are able to use the benefits available through the scheme Shabana told PTIThings are a little more stable for us now and we have also started building a house in our village and are able to save a little I feel proud of the work I do and of being able to contribute to my family she addedAt one of the projects upcycling centres here discarded milk pouches are given a second life Each pouch is washed thoroughly until every trace of residue is gone then left to dry before being cut into a single unbroken strip corner to corner to form a ribbon of plasticThereafter the plastic ribbon is woven with cotton thread on a wooden frame until the plastic and cotton become indistinguishable and what emerges is not waste but commercial goods like handbags wallets plant holders and moreSpeaking about the initiative Angela Lusigi UNDP Resident Representative in India told PTI that their campaign highlights how climate action begins locally with people and that waste workers exemplify this best sorting and recycling waste every day yet rarely being seen as climate leaders a gap the campaign aims to close by finally recognising them as suchAccording to Ashish Chaturvedi head of Action for Climate and Environment at UNDP India awareness and confidence were the real barriers for waste workers to accessing welfare schemes and not eligibilityWe also saw a multiplier effect When one person successfully accesses a scheme neighbours follow trust widens and social protection carries forward on its own Communities have become their own ambassadors for inclusion he told PTIFor Chaturvedi the biggest change wasnt in the schemes accessed but in how people began to see themselves No longer only as workers who keep cities clean but as citizens holding rights entitlements and aspirationsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever