Hasiru Dala, which means ‘Green Force’ in Kannada, is a social impact organisation focused on securing social justice for waste pickers through interventions co-created with waste pickers in the areas of identity rights, access to employment, skill development, family education, healthcare, housing and other social security entitlements. Operating across 18 cities, 38 taluks, and 64 villages in two South Indian states, Hasiru Dala is at the forefront of advocating for waste pickers’ rights and well-being in collaboration with other groups and stakeholders. Hasiru Dala has worked with waste pickers in Bengaluru since 2011 and was incorporated as a Charitable Trust in November 2013.
Role in Saamuhika Shakti
Hasiru Dala’s role in Saamuhika Shakti is to ensure that waste pickers, particularly the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, women and youth, are empowered to navigate the evolving waste ecosystem. By focusing on social security, health, housing, financial inclusion and mental health, Hasiru Dala’s interventions complement the efforts of other Saamuhika Shakti partners in creating a holistic approach to improving the quality of life for waste picker families. Their collaborative efforts help to address the intersecting needs of the community, contributing to the collective goals of Saamuhika Shakti.
Activities
Hasiru Dala’s contributions to the Saamuhika Shakti initiative encompass several key activities:
Social Security & Digital Literacy: Hasiru Dala is enhancing digital awareness among waste pickers, teaching them to use platforms like DigiLocker for the safe storage of vital documents. This initiative ensures that waste pickers are better equipped to access social security services and maintain their family's safety nets. To foster financial inclusion, Hasiru Dala works with nationalised banks and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) to provide waste pickers with low-interest loans and financial services, especially for women who face unique challenges in accessing these services
Housing & Sanitation: The ‘Hasiru Mane’ initiative advocates for public housing and improved sanitation in waste-pickers’ communities. It also includes training on public housing and links nutrition awareness with zero-waste practices. In addition, Hasiru Mane focuses on climate-resilient housing solutions, such as the implementation of climate-proof roofing systems, to ensure that homes in waste-pickers' communities are better equipped to handle extreme weather conditions. More here about the climate proofing effort: 📖 Climate-pROOFing informal settlements: Roofs To Protect Against Climate Change & Rising Temperatures in Jyothipura
Health, Mental Health, Family Violence and Substance Abuse: The focus is on preventive health measures and access to healthcare services. Collaboration with organisations like National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS) is leveraged to address substance abuse as a public health issue, with youth-led prevention initiatives and professional-led treatments. The mental health initiative increases awareness, provides peer counselling and builds community engagement with mental health support. Family violence is addressed through peer counselling teams and support systems within the community
Buguri Children’s Programme: This program supports children’s wellness through Creative Arts Therapy and Play & Art Therapy, addressing issues like domestic violence and substance abuse. The Journal of Creative Art Therapies published an article from Hasiru Dala on the program in December 2023: 📖 Co-creating healing spaces with children: Community-based creative arts therapy in South India
Leadership Training: Building leadership among waste pickers, Hasiru Dala empowers them to advocate for their rights and engage in policy dialogues on Solid Waste Management. Additionally, waste pickers are empowered to transition into roles as waste managers and entrepreneurs, providing them with enhanced livelihood security. The organisation also highlights their contributions to climate change and local economic development through research and social media
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The PPE initiative for waste pickers addresses not just the design, but also the accessibility and affordability of protective equipment. Through a collaborative effort with healthcare professionals, community members and designers like Thumbi Labs and Foley Designs, the Hasiru Dala team has developed nine types of PPE suited for various waste-picking roles, with a focus on gender inclusivity. These include PPEs customised for collection and sorting of wet waste, dry waste andpicking waste from the streets, and will last longer than the current ones available in the market. The video here sheds light on the journey to develop better protective gear for waste pickers: 📹 Conversations from the field: Making PPE work for waste pickers
The goal is to provide PPE to 1,000 waste pickers in Bengaluru and establish a community-based repair network to maintain the equipment's longevity. This project aims to create a safer, more sustainable working environment for waste pickers while promoting health and well-being.
Building on the successes of Phase 1, which brought significant advancements in social security, housing, health and financial inclusion, Phase 2 is designed to deepen impact and expand reach.
Key Focus Areas:
Enhanced Social Security & Digital Inclusion: Prioritise digital literacy for waste pickers to independently manage social security benefits via DigiLocker. Expand outreach to underserved groups, especially women and those in informal settlements
Scaling Housing & Sanitation Efforts: Broaden the ‘Hasiru Mane’ initiative to include more communities, advocating for public housing while addressing sanitation issues. Enhance training on public housing schemes and rights to help waste pickers secure their housing needs
Comprehensive Health & Substance Abuse Programs: Introduce new health camps and workshops focusing on preventive care and substance abuse. Strengthen partnerships with institutions like NIMHANS to provide preventive and curative care, particularly for youth
Financial Inclusion & Entrepreneurship Support: Expand access to low-interest loans and financial services for waste pickers, with a focus on women. Support waste pickers transitioning to entrepreneurship with necessary tools and guidance
Child Welfare & Mental Health: Enhance the Buguri Children’s Programme with a greater emphasis on mental health support. Expand creative arts and play therapy to more communities to address issues such as domestic violence and substance abuse
Leadership Training: Scale up leadership training for waste pickers to advocate for their rights and highlight their role in climate change mitigation and local economic development
Impact
In Phase 1, Hasiru Dala achieved several significant milestones
Social Security: 7,225 waste pickers successfully received social security benefits by the end of the first phase in December 2023. The social return on investment (SROI) study conducted by Hasiru Dala on the access to social security entitlements program of Phase 1 of Saamuhika Shakti revealed that, for every rupee spent, it returned a value equivalent to INR 9.83. A more in-depth analysis can be found here: 📖 Empowering Bengaluru's waste pickers
Housing: Constructed 14 temporary homes and upgraded roofs for 15 households in Jyothi Pura. Provided flood relief to 986 households across nine Bengaluru settlements
Financial Literacy and Inclusion: Trained 2,070 community members in financial literacy, resulting in 1,250 individuals accessing financial services
Livelihoods in DWCCs: Supported the formation of nine Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Dry Waste Collection Centers (DWCCs) with Saamuhika Shakti partners across South Bengaluru. DWCC operations remained functional throughout the four-year period, even during the pandemic lockdowns
Hasiru Dala’s work within Saamuhika Shakti is instrumental in ensuring that waste pickers, especially women, and vulnerable groups, have the tools and support they need to thrive. Through their comprehensive approach to social security, housing, health and financial inclusion, Hasiru Dala is helping to build a more just and equitable future for waste-picking communities in Bengaluru.
Impact
11,428
children (5,561 boys, 5,630 girls) reached through various educational and developmental initiatives
2,834
parents engaged in their children’s education and well-being
224
teachers trained to improve educational outcomes
1,092
children receive social entitlements like Aadhaar cards, bank accounts and government schemes
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