Dated:25th May 2018
To
Shri Narendra Modi
Prime Minister
Government of India
New Delhi
-Copied to Union Home Ministry & Chief Minister’s Office, Gujarat
Subject: Condemnation of the brutal killing of waste-picker Mukesh Vaniya in Rajkot & demand for immediate action to be taken against those responsible behind the killing
Respected Sir
According to a news-report in The Indian Express (Dated 22nd May 2018), Mukesh Vaniya, a waste-picker in Rajkot was beaten to death by unidentified persons of a factory at Shapar village in Rajkot. The incident took place on 20th May 2018, in the morning. Mukesh Vaniya along with his wife Jaya and acquaintance Savita were picking up waste near the factory. The women folks were beaten and sent away, whereas Mukesh was held captive and beaten to death.
We the members of the Alliance of Indian Waste-pickers condemn the brutal killing of Mukesh Vaniya and demand for immediate action to be taken against those responsible for the killing. We request for speedy justice and an adequate compensation and safety for the family members of Mukesh Vaniya. The family should also be provided access to other social and economic protection measure.
Through this letter, we would like to bring this to your note that waste-pickers play an important role in solid waste management. Waste-pickers pick up waste from the streets. They convert the discards in useful material for manufacturing. Thereby keep our cities clean. The vitality of their work has been acknowledged in Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan guidelines and Solid Waste Management Rules 2016. The rules mandate their inclusion and integration. There are many programmes started by different ministries at union and states level for their integration process. With all the discussion about their integration, on ground they are discriminated because of their caste and occupation. They are looked at as thieves and criminals. We demand an end to this discrimination, which a lot of times turn violent. We demand that all social actors including police and state institutions are sensitized about the work done by waste-pickers. They should be provided safe, non-discriminatory and violence free environment to work in.
Endorsed by members of Alliance of Indian Waste-pickers
All India Kabadi Mazdoor Mahasangh (AIKMM), Delhi & Bihar
Asangathit Shramik Mahila Sanghathan, Indore
Avani Sanstha, Kolhapur
Bal Vikas Dhara, Delhi
Chintan, Delhi
Dalit Bahujan Resource Centre, Guntur & Vijayawada
Hasiru Dala, Bengaluru
Janvikas Society, Indore
Kachra Kamagar Union, Delhi
Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat, Pune
Kagad Kanch Patra Kamagar Sanghatana, Aurangabad
Parisar Bhagini Vikas Sangathana, Navi Mumbai
Rajasthan Kachra Majdoor Sangh, Jaipur
Safai Sena, Delhi
Seva, Nashik
Stree Mukti Sangathana, Mumbai
SwaCH, Pune
Wainganga Samudayik Vikas Kendra, Balaghat
Endorsements of the allied individuals and organizations of the Alliance of Indian Waste-pickers
Aruna Roy, Shankar Singh & Nikhil Dey, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, Rajasthan
Bonded Labour Liberation Front
Centre for Health & Social Justice Delhi
Harsh Mander, Aman Biradari, Delhi
Monika Khanna Gulati, Gurgaon
NCR Waste Matters, Gurgaon
Pratibha Sharma, Global Alliance for Incineration Alternatives, Mumbai
Prof. Ravi Srivastava, New Delhi
Prof. T. Swaminathan, Chennai
Manohar, Human Rights Defender Alert India (HRDA-India) & All India Network of Individuals and NGOs working with State & National Hum Rights Institutions
Rajiv Khandelwal, Aajeevika Bureau
Ritu Dewan, Mumbai
S.Q. Masood, Aseem, Hyderabad
Saahas Waste Management Private Limited, Bengaluru
Saahas, Bengaluru
Sandeep Khare, Vigyan Foundation Team
Shweta Tambe, Habitat and Livelihood Welfare Association, Mumbai
Solid Waste Awareness & Action Forum, Gurgaon
Sudhir Katiyar, Majur Adhikar Manch, Ahmedabad
Sunil Kumar Aledia, New Delhi
Sushant Agarwal
World Council of Arya Samaj
Stories of Waste and Waste Workers - Live Blog of Hasiru Dala 