About the Project

Founded in August 2024, Project Adhikaar is a social initiative aiming to uplift the lives of women waste pickers associated with Safai Sena through a multi-faceted approach focusing on economic opportunities, education and healthcare. 

Some of the pathways that Project Adhikaar employs to achieve these goals include organizing free health camps in order to expand access to urgent healthcare services; exploring upcycling as a skilling opportunity for waste pickers to enable them expand their employment options; and offering training in communication and public speaking so as to equip them with the skills necessary to advocate for protective policies and reform. To drive the latter, Project Adhikaar has developed educational resources aimed at boosting women's communication skills, along with their digital and financial literacy, and hopes to facilitate interactive workshops as well. 

The mission of the project is to support the Safai Sena in their pursuit of health and education, and to bolster their efforts as they advocate for their livelihoods even as the government seeks to privatize waste management. We envision a future where the women at Safai Sena are able to live a better quality of life, equipped with the tools that they need to empower themselves, and the safe and clean work environment everyone deserves.