PUNE: The number of children out of school and engaged in labour has increased during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, according to a survey of 3,399 waste-pickers in the city.
The survey revealed that 214 children were involved in waste collection, sorting, segregating and pushing waste cart at their parent’s place of work daily.
Vinayak Mane (17), a Class XII student, goes with his mother to help her sort and segregate waste.
“She is quite old and remains unwell.
Hence, I go and help her out with work.
My father is an autorickshaw driver, but he hardly earns anything.
So, there is a financial crunch,” said Mane, who commutes from Pimpri to Sadashiv Peth for work every day.
Om Dinkar (15), a Class X student, is taken by his mother, a wastepicker, to her place of work.
“I attend online classes sitting on the side of the road while my mother goes about with her work.
Due to traffic, I sometimes miss out on what is being said by the teacher.
Then there is a network issue.
On top of it, even when I complete the assigned work in whatever way I can, the teachers scold me for not doing the work properly.
How will I tell them my problems,” asked Dinkar from Yerawada.
Meanwhile, Atul Khude, a Class XII student, helps his wastepicker mother on days like Monday when her workload is heavy.
“Since Sundays are off days, there is much work on Monday.
My mother also feels that if left alone at home, I will move around with other children and thinks that taking me along with her is better,” he said.
The survey was carried out by Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP) and Solid Waste Collection and Handling (SWaCH), a collective of wastepickers, in March, April and May this year.
The aim was to understand the current situation of children of wastepickers and to explore reasons for children at work.
The need for daycare facilities was the solution suggested by most parents.
Rani Shivsharan, a wastepicker leader, said in a statement, “While we track the admission and reintegration of children in schools, we need also to put forth our demands before the PMC for daycare centres for children of informal workers who now are left with no option but to take their children to work.”