Recycling agents speak at Rome meet

PUNE: Two members from SWaCH were invited to speak at a global event of people behind popular movements in Vatican City, Rome, this week and met, among others, the Pope.
Speaking at the convention, Kavita Pawar said: "We are recycling agents and help slow down climate change, but never receive our dues. We have to struggle to make ends meet despite the service we offer in keeping the city clean and the environment less polluted." She was joined by Sandhya Dhamale.SWaCH was among the 150 participating organisations invited to share the struggle of waste pickers in Pune towards integration into the formal Solid Waste Management systems.
The duo also met leaders from other grassroots organisations of waste collectors, excluded workers, migrants, informal and young people's groups, landless farmers, inhabitants of urban informal settlements and marginalized areas. The pontiff, too, highlighted the growing degradation of workers and their working conditions. The meeting was organised by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in collaboration with others working for greater social justice.