Over a thousand waste pickers affiliated with the SWaCH Cooperative have staged a significant protest in front of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) office, voicing their concerns over what they deem as unfair provisions in their forthcoming five-year contract with the civic body.
The protestors argue that certain clauses in the contract are disproportionately punitive, penalising waste pickers for factors beyond their control. Key points of contention include penalties imposed for receiving a single citizen complaint or for instances where waste collection is hampered due to the unavailability of PMC vehicles.
The protest highlights a clause that could potentially lead to the termination of their contracts in favour of private contractors, which has sparked further discontent among the waste pickers. “Imposing penalties and threatening suspension for waste pickers who manage waste from over 10 lakh households is unwarranted. The PMC’s inclination towards engaging private contractors is something we staunchly oppose,” stated a waste picker from Kothrud. In response, the head of the solid waste management department at PMC defended the contract terms. “We have a provision to impose fines if SWaCH workers fail to perform their duties adequately, similar to how fines are imposed on citizens for littering and PMC staff for errors. Delays in waste collection due to traffic issues with PMC vehicles are acknowledged, but we need to balance accountability,” said the department head.
The PMC has advised waste pickers to formally submit their grievances for review by the municipal commissioner, who will ultimately decide on the contract’s terms. This step is seen as an attempt to address the concerns raised by the waste pickers while maintaining the integrity of waste management operations in the city. The ongoing dispute underscores the tension between municipal regulations and the operational realities faced by waste management workers, highlighting the need for balanced and equitable contract terms that consider the challenges inherent in waste collection and management.
