Dated: 9th June 2021
To
Shri Amit Shah
Honourable Home Minister
Government of India
New Delhi
[Copies of the letter sent to Chief Minister of Delhi, Commissioner of Police, Delhi and Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission]
Subject: Condemnation of the brutal killing of waste-picker Oshit Das in Jahangir Puri & demand for immediate action to be taken against those responsible for the killing
Respected Sir
According to a news report in The Indian Express (2nd June 2021), Oshit Das, a waste-picker in Jahangirpuri, Delhi was beaten to death by a group working with the company associated with Delhi Metro Corporation. The incident took place on 1st June 2021, and the news report mentions that this is a third killing based on suspicion of theft. We would like to add that, in 2018 Mukesh Vaniya, a waste-picker from Gujarat was murdered on similar suspicions.
We the members of the Alliance of Indian Waste-pickers condemn the brutal killing of Oshit Das and other waste-pickers and demand for immediate action to be taken against those responsible for the killing. We request speedy justice and adequate compensation and safety for the family members of Oshit Das. The family should also be provided access to other social and economic protection measures.
Through this letter, we would like to bring to your note that waste-pickers play an important role in waste management. Waste-pickers pick waste from the streets. They convert the discards into useful materials 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 programs started by different ministries at the union and states level for their integration process. With all the discussion about their integration, on the ground, they are discriminated against 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, security guards, and state institutions are sensitized about the work done by waste-pickers. They should be provided with a safe, non-discriminatory and violence-free environment to work in.
Endorsed by the member organizations of the Alliance of Indian Waste-pickers
- Aasra Welfare Association, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Arya Samaj Foundation, Aurangabad, Maharashtra
- Avani Sanstha, Kolhapur, Maharashtra
- Bal Vikas Dhara, Delhi
- Basti Suraksha Manch, Delhi
- Centre for Sustainable Development, Nagpur, Maharashtra
- Dalit Bahujan Resource Centre, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
- Janvikas Society, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Delhi Roundtable on Solid Waste Management, Delhi
- Direct Initiative for Social and Health Action (DISHA), Kolkata, West Bengal
- Hasiru Dala, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
- Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat, Pune, Maharashtra
- Lokadhikar, Delhi
- Muskan, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Parisar Bhagini Vikas Sanghatana, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Rajasthan Kachra Majdoor Mahasangh, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Recity Private Limited, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Safai Sena, Delhi
- Samman, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Shehri Mahila Kaamgar Union, Delhi
- Stree Mukti Sanghatana, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Swacch Association, Nagpur, Maharashtra
- Vrecycle Waste Management Services, Goa.
- Wainganga Samudayik Vikas Kendra, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh
Endorsed by the allies and partners of the Alliance of Indian Waste-pickers
- Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS), New Delhi, Delhi
- Main Bhi Dilli Campaign, Delhi
- Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM), Delhi
Alliance of Indian Wastepickers is a national coalition of organizations working with waste-pickers and other informal waste workers. The alliance was created to have coordinated efforts to ensure inclusion of waste pickers in various national level programmes. Members of the alliance are from more than 12 states of India and represent more than 140,000 waste-pickers
Stories of Waste and Waste Workers - Live Blog of Hasiru Dala 