There are around 1,00,000 waste pickers and informal waste collectors in Karnataka, India. The majority of them are based in major cities like Bengaluru. Smaller cities like Chamarajanagar and Tumkuru have 100-500 waste pickers. A significant number of waste pickers are women who belong to socially marginalised populations, including scheduled castes, tribes and other backward classes. Studies have found that many of the waste pickers are young (18 to 40 years), illiterate and economically and socially disadvantaged people engaged in waste picking in different cities. Hence, they remain doubly marginalised given their class and caste backgrounds.
Children of waste pickers dive into the world of books at the Buguri Community Library, seven days a week!
Video: Deccan Herald
Challenges
Children of waste pickers are one of the most marginalised populations of ‘at risk’ children. Many of them drop out of school very early and follow their parents into waste picking, making them prey not only to the vicious cycle of poverty, but also exposing them to life threatening health hazards. A few others last in schools till they are about fifteen and then drift away to do manual work. There are very few children whose parents are able persist and help them complete their schooling.
Our biggest challenge is creating stable and nurturing spaces for children to thrive. It is through stability that children begin to transform. When given safety, they are able to be creative and are eager to learn. This gives them a choice in terms of the occupation that they want to choose for themselves.
Our Approach
Hasiru Dala’s Buguri Children’s Programme works towards the betterment of the children through various programs that focus on making sure that children stay in school, complete their education and find nurturing spaces for them to grow. It also provides safe environments that help nurture the children’s social, emotional and cognitive growth. The Buguri Children’s Programme impacts over 1,000 children of waste pickers and informal waste workers across Karnataka through its libraries and education support programmes.
Scholarships and Educational Loans
Identification of potential candidates and facilitation of application of scholarships (both government-funded and privately funded) to provide financial support for continuation of education. It also facilitates procurement of loans at low interest rates for college going students.
Hostel Enrolment
Identification of at risk children who need immediate rehabilitation. The team works with hostel programmes along with parents to make sure such children find safe environments to live and continue their education. Our field staff regularly visit these hostels to stay in touch with the children and monitor their well-being.
Community Libraries
Run community libraries in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Tumakuru catering to over 500 children with children having access to over 3,000 books. This is an after-school program where children are a part of a reading room program, and also in programmes that bring literature alive through arts, storytelling, book discussions and talks.
Library on Wheels
Reaching out to highly marginalised communities where having a physical community library is a difficult task. Our library educators work in identified communities to put up pop-up libraries that give children access to various kinds of children’s literature and involve them in arts-based activities.
Creative Arts Expression Program
Specifically designed for adolescents in the Banashankari community, Bengaluru focuses on using arts as a medium to engage in discussions with teenagers on addiction, gender sensitivity and issues of child marriage.
Annual Workshop
Yearly event conducted in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Tumakuru during the summer that brings over 600 children together for a day of fun and learning. At the end of the workshop, the children take an oath to stay in school and work with the Hasiru Dala team in cases of drop outs.
Read Loud Day Celebration
This yearly event is envisioned to promote literacy among young children of waste pickers through story books. Each year around the World Read Aloud Day celebrated in February, librarians, partner organisations and volunteers read aloud to over 2,500 children in school, communities, libraries and public spaces. It is an attempt to also create inclusive spaces for children of waste pickers where they can interact with children from other communities and build new friendships and bonds and learn together.