Keeping in mind the possibility of providing social entitlements
to ragpickers and integrating them into an increasingly privatised solid waste
management system, the Chennai Corporation is taking steps to issue identity
cards to them. Working with Transparent Chennai, the civic body is conducting a
survey. Last month, it enumerated the ragpickers at Kodungaiyur dumping
yard.“There are about 200 ragpickers in the dumping yard. We want to give them
identity cards to keep out unauthorised entry and keep in check fires that may
break out in the dumping yard. The ragpickers often complain of being harassed
by the police, so this ID will help them,” said a senior Corporation official.
One of the main reasons for this exercise, according to the official, is to
figure out a way to resolve the conflict that is bound to rise due to
privatisation of solid waste management in the city.