Ragpickers seek recognition

To ensure a sustainable livelihood for waste pickers,the Alliance of Indian Wastepickers has sought recognition for this unorganised labour sector. The alliance representing nearly 15 lakh unregulated scrap collectors in the country submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Wednesday. Their demands included registration and recognition of waste pickers by the local government body,photo ID cards and eligibility for benefits under various state schemes. Lakshmi Narayan,general secretary of Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat,said,“We want to spread awareness about the importance of their work in urban areas.”