Garbage collectors face health hazards

Thiruvananthapuram: Sreedevi, 43, starts her day as early as 2.30 a.m. She prepares breakfast, tends to her invalid husband and does other household chores before setting off to work at 4.30 a.m., clad in her green uniform sari.

She, like 872 other women, forms part of the citys garbage removal brigade. The Solid Waste Workers (SWW) have been grouped into 76 Klean Well units set up by the Kudumbasree Mission for the Capital City Clean City (CCCC) project implemented by the City Corporation in 66 wards.

Each Klean Well unit comprises 10 to 15 workers operating in an entrepreneur mode. Each worker earns salary of approximately Rs.3,000-3,500.

Most of the women are from financially backward families. Even though the majority are aware of the risks associated with their work, the steady source of income is a boon to them