Traditional rag pickers belonging to the informal sector held simultaneous rallies across Delhi on Wednesday to demand official recognition of their right to collect waste. The rallies, organised by a number of non-governmental organisations, were held as waste collection is being increasingly privatised.

Malati, manager of a project ' a voice for waste' at Chintan, an NGO that works with rag pickers said, “App oximately 70% of Delhi waste has been privatised. In the beginning, door-to-door contracts were not given to private companies. Now there is a threat of even that segment becoming privatised.”

The rallies were taken out in Civil Lines, Rohini, Najafgarh and Vasant Vihar, among other areas. Besides Chintan, the organisers included All India Kachra Mazdoor Mahasangh (AIKMM), All India Kachra Shramik Mahasangh (AIKSM), Safai Sena, Chetanalaya, Green Flag Trade Union, Kachara Kamgar Union and Bal Vikas Dhara.

Keena Mohammed, a rag picker who has been collecting waste from the United Arab Emirates embassy in Chanakyapuri for around six years now, said, “The embassy is saying that they will soon start giving their waste to a private company. Where will we earn our income in that case?”

Privatisation started in 2005 when companies such as Delhi Waste Management, Anthony Waste and Ramki were given private contracts in various zones.

The demands of the rag pickers included:

• Door-to-door waste collection should be enabled everywhere in the city and only recycling workers from the informal sector should be eligible for collection.

• Every local body should, as part of the land use plan / development plan / master plan, provide for and make available for use amenity spaces in every neighbourhood to organisations of informal recyclers.

• All registered waste pickers should be eligible for benefits under government schemes irrespective of BPL status.

• Waste to energy projects that use municipal solid waste as feedstock for burn technology should not be permitted.

• Every informal waste recycling worker should be registered by the urban local body and provided a photo-identity card that authorises him / her to collect, process or sell waste.