SWaCH takes its struggle to citizens
CAMIL PARKHE
Sakal Times
Saturday, August 25, 2012 AT 05:17 PM (IST)
Launches signature drive to save jobs of wastepickers
PIMPRI: SWaCh, which has terminated its contract of garbage collection within the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) jurisdiction citing unfair treatment, has now launched a signature drive. It is approaching citizens to ensure protection of livelihood of its waste picker members.
SWaCh, a cooperative society of waste collectors, was appointed by the PCMC for door-to-door waste collection in A and D wards. The agency issued a notice to terminate the contract alleging that the PCMC was not interested in continuing its eco-friendly garbage collection model. The civic body is now planning to appoint a new agency for the purpose in the two wards.
In an open letter, SWaCH has said that it had taken taken up garbage collection with an understanding that its waste pickers in the remaining B and C wards would be given the jobs after a year.
The agency alleged that the PCMC betrayed it and tendered out the work to another agency, BVG Group, on different terms. Pointing out that the BVG model does not require collection of user fees.
SWaCH says that the civic body has created a situation in which some citizens have to pay for waste collection and others do not.
The PCMC had recently issued notice to SWaCH about giving minimum wages and other benefits to its members.
SWaCH said its struggle is not over after terminating the contract. "We have to feed and clothe our children, we have to educate them. So we need work. We will approach the same officials who have issued us a notice. We will ensure that they protect our livelihood with the new contractor they appoint and ensure they give all the benefits," the letter says.
It has asked citizens to sign the pamphlet, condemning the PCMC's discriminatory approach in garbage collection in two parts of the city and demanding the integration of the displaced waste pickers in any waste collection model introduced by the civic body.
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