NMMC distributes 448 PPE kits and health cards to Navi Mumbai waste pickers
On Friday, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) distributed 448 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, Ayushman Bharat cards, and NAMASTE identity cards to informal waste pickers in Navi Mumbai. The distribution, which was held under the central government's National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme, aims to improve the safety, health, and dignity of local sanitation workers.
Deputy Commissioner of Solid Waste Management Dr. Ajay Gagde stated that the distribution of the 448 PPE kits represents the first phase of the scheme. He added that the profiling of waste pickers is currently being carried out by the Parisar Sakhi Vikas Sanstha, with 930 women registered under the initiative so far.
Speaking at the event, Mayor Sujata Patil highlighted the vital role played by sanitation workers in the city's cleanliness achievements. Patil noted that the efforts of informal waste pickers have been instrumental in Navi Mumbai earning a place among the cleanest cities in India under the 'Super Swachh League' category.
Patil stated that it is the responsibility of the municipal corporation to ensure the safety, dignity, and welfare of the workers while honoring their hard work. She also praised the women who completed their education despite facing significant hardships, calling them an inspiration to society.
In addition to the safety gear distribution, the civic body felicitated women e-rickshaw drivers who are engaged in door-to-door waste collection in the localities of Digha, Rabale, Airoli, and Ghansoli. This specific waste collection drive is being run under an initiative supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The NMMC also honored 11 women waste pickers who successfully cleared their Class 10 board examinations this year. Their educational journey was supported by initiatives from the Stree Mukti Sanghatana and the Prabhat Trust, inspired by the Marathi film Aata Thambaycha Nay.
Stree Mukti Sanghatana chief Prof. Vrushali Magdum praised the NMMC for its consistent support of initiatives targeting waste pickers. She highlighted the success of the 'Zero Waste Slum Model' currently operating in five slum clusters, which has helped bring informal waste pickers into the NAMASTE scheme. The programme concluded with motivational songs and cultural performances by the waste pickers.
