Over 3,500 SWaCH waste pickers in Pune face sudden unemployment after the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) introduced large mechanised vehicles and phased out the decentralised, doorstep model from September 2025.
Despite prior assurances, SWaCH workers, mainly women, were allegedly excluded from the new system, leading to widespread distress, unanswered promises, and growing protests. PMC claims inclusion is possible, but affected families remain sceptical.
Livelihoods Upended: Stories from the Ground
Many waste pickers, previously earning ₹25,000–30,000 a month from citizen fees and recycling, now struggle to repay loans and maintain basic living standards. Despite a recent meeting promising inclusion, PMC vans have replaced SWaCH workers overnight, leaving families financially and emotionally devastated.
Protests have erupted across the city, with thousands of waste pickers demanding fair treatment and warning of mass unemployment. Some now wear black bands as a silent protest against delayed contract renewals and uncertain futures, while senior SWaCH members urge the PMC to honour commitments made during official meetings.
Undermining a Green and Inclusive Legacy
The SWaCH–PMC partnership, recognised as a national model, enabled nearly 4,000 waste pickers to serve over 900,000 Pune households through direct household fees and recycling. SWaCH’s user-fee structure not only delivered financial autonomy but also high rates of segregation and recycling at low cost, saving the city an estimated ₹110 crores annually.
Experts such as Atin Biswas of the Centre for Science and Environment have warned that shifting to a contract-driven, mechanised system threatens to dismantle Pune’s progressive legacy while risking a spike in landfill waste.
SWaCH members argue their system is more transparent and accountable than the alternatives, pointing to their collection of over 70,000 tonnes of waste per year and their role in sustainable urban development. Despite these tangible benefits, the new policy appears to prioritise mechanisation and privatisation, raising concerns over environmental impacts and social exclusion.
Stakeholder Responses and Calls for Action
According to TOI, PMC officials maintain that SWaCH workers could be included in the new setup if they adapt their skills, with Solid Waste chief Sandip Kadam stating, “If they can drive a vehicle, they would be appointed in related roles. We want the process as mechanised as possible”.
However, SWaCH representatives argue that communication has been lacking and that assurances have not materialised in practice.
Union leaders and activists have backed the waste pickers, holding the government accountable for protecting a sustainable, inclusive model. Experts urge a dialogue between PMC, SWaCH, and citizens to preserve the city’s green legacy and promote livelihoods for all.
In a report by HT, Suman More, chairperson of SWaCH, puts it, “Our commitment to the city remains unwavering. We will keep expressing dissent until all concerns are addressed”.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This episode reflects a larger urban dilemma: how should cities balance efficiency with empathy and justice? The Logical Indian advocates for a harmonised system in which waste pickers’ expertise, dignity, and environmental stewardship are protected, not undermined.
By encouraging local governments and citizens to dialogue and defend sustainable models, Pune can set a precedent for socially just and green urbanisation.
