Informal waste workers, often referred to as Safai Mitras, carry out essential work in collecting, sorting, and managing waste from streets, homes, and unregulated landfills, yet they do so under hazardous conditions. Their daily work exposes them to sharp materials, heavy loads, and harmful substances, while also placing them under significant mental and emotional stress due to insecurity, stigma, and lack of recognition.
Unlike formal sector workers, Safai Mitras often operate without adequate protective equipment, stable working conditions, or access to essential healthcare and social protection systems. This gap highlights the broader challenges of informality in urban sanitation work, where critical services are delivered without corresponding safeguards for worker safety and dignity.
Efforts such as India’s NAMASTE Scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and UNDP India’s Project Utthaan, supported by partners including The Coca-Cola Foundation, are working to improve this situation. These initiatives focus on providing healthcare access, safety equipment, and social protection, helping to create more secure and dignified working environments for waste workers.
Across Delhi NCR and Pune, more than 30 health camps have been organized under these initiatives, reaching over 2,900 Safai Mitras through partnerships with organizations such as FINISH Society and the Centre for Education, Governance and Policy Foundation. These services bring healthcare closer to workers who often cannot afford to step away from their daily livelihoods.
Personal stories from workers highlight the impact of these interventions. In Ghaziabad, Safai Mitras describe how access to medical consultations has brought reassurance, improved awareness of their health, and strengthened their sense of being cared for. Others share how simple prescriptions and check-ups provide confidence and a sense of control over their well-being.
In Pune, mobile medical units under Project Utthaan are delivering healthcare directly to communities, allowing workers to receive treatment without missing work. This approach not only improves access but also reduces barriers related to time, mobility, and income loss. Workers report that doorstep healthcare enables them to maintain both their health and their livelihoods more effectively.
Overall, these efforts highlight the importance of expanding occupational safety beyond physical protection to include mental well-being, dignity, and social inclusion. Ensuring access to healthcare and protection systems strengthens not only the health of Safai Mitras but also their confidence, recognition, and sense of belonging within society.
