Hasiru Dala, APD Foundation help ragpickers in Mangaluru

MANGALURU: Responding to the plight of waste pickers in the city, APD Foundation, in association with its partner organization Hasiru Dala, organized a well-coordinated campaign. Large family kits (to cover 1-1.5 month’s grocery for families of five) and small grocery kits for small families were provided. A total of 199 such kits were distributed. Medicine and health support were provided to more than 60 rag pickers families for two months. A community kitchen was arranged to provide food to ragpickers during Covid induced lockdown. Food was distributed to over 200 waste pickers and homeless people for 28 days.
Further, hygiene kits comprising soap, towel, toothbrush, and toothpaste were provided to 19 pregnant women and lactating mothers and 63 children of rag pickers. Protein kits comprising five types of protein-rich dal were provided to 33 families with children. PPE kits with reusable masks, gloves, and gumboots were provided to waste pickers in Pachchanady, and masks were distributed to waste pickers, sorters, and scrap dealers.
“Waste pickers play a very important role in processing waste. We are doing our bit to reach out and ensure a decent living for them,” said Abdullah A. Rehman, founder, and CEO, APD Foundation. Samvada Youth Research Centre took the initiative to run the community kitchen. Vanishree B R, Dhanush Desai, and Megan D’Souza from APD Foundation and Abdul Khalif of Hasiru Dala co-ordinated the effort.
Hasiru Dala focuses on justice for waste pickers. APD Foundation and Hasiru Dala had entered into a joint agreement last year to undertake wide-ranging activities. A Tier II city like Mangalore produces about 300 tons of waste every day. Waste pickers primarily recover recyclables from garbage dumps and sort, grade, and send it to the recycling industry.