Key words: Haritha karma sena, waste management, social security mission,socio economic factors, Health Conditions.
1.INTRODUCTION
The persistent increase of unorganized labour force has become a common feature of world economy over the last few years. Among the total employed population of the world 61.2% employee works in unorganized sectors (Panner et al, 2019). It is found that developed countries having high income level depends less on informal or unorganized sector while countries having low and middle income largely depends on informal sector. As per the ILO Report 2018, Africa is in top in case of people employed in informal sector having with 85.8% followed by emerging and developing countries (69.6%), Arab states (68.6%), Asia and the Pacific (68.2%), America (40%), Europe and Central Asia (25.1%), developed countries (18.3%) (Panner et al, 2019). The National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector NCEUS (2009) defined the unorganized workers as’ unorganized workers are consist of those workers in the unorganized sector or households, excluding regular workers who enjoys social security benefits given by the employers and the workers in the formal sector who are not given any employment and social security benefits given by the employers.’(Venkatashami and Harish, 2015).Indian economy has preponderance of informal and unorganized sector both in terms of number of workers and enterprises. This segment of economy has inbuilt vulnerabilities, and the study of unorganised sector based on reliable data is important for informed decision making and addressing the problems faced. The biggest problem with the informal sector in India is that here is no precise information about the total number of workers what to say of women engaged in this sector and also their respective ratios in various diversified occupations. (Mohapatra, K. K. 2012). The women workers in the informal sector work as a piece rate worker, self-employed worker, paid worker in informal enterprises; unpaid workers in family business; casual workers with no fixed employers; sub-contract workers who have restricted themselves to formal businesses. The home-based workers and the street vendors are two of the largest sub-groups of such laborers. But of these, informal work force home-based workers are many; street vendors are more visible of two. Combined, they are estimated to comprise 10-25 percent of the non-agricultural labor force of developing Countries and more than 5 percent of the total work force of the developed countries.
1.2 OBJECTIVES
1.To examine the working conditions of women in Haritha Karma Sena.
2.To provide recommendations for improving working conditions of them and promoting the health, well-being, and job satisfaction of women in Haritha Karma Sena.
1.3 ROLE OF HARITHA KARMA SENA (HKS) IN MANJERI MUNICIPALITY
Haritha Karma Sena, the joint initiative of kudumbasree, Haritha Kerala Mission, Suchitwa Mission, Pollution Control Board, and Clean Kerala Company commenced operations on 15 July 2017 in Kerala. Collection and management of non-biodegradable wastes are the objectives of the project and each member responsible for responsibilities regarding to collection, transportation, processing, recycling, disposal, and management of non-biodegradable wastes. Selection process conducted by LSGI and Haritha Kerala Mission, with Kudumbasree members given priority. Each member of the Haritha Karma Sena undergoes a three-day training program on activities related to waste collection, segregation, and management. It is aims to place for enhance waste management facilities in the region. The Kerala Government has allocated funds for the initial level training of the Haritha Karma Sena, and Kudumbasree has proposed a grant of 3.6 Crore rupees. Overall coordination is done by the Haritha Kerala Mission and provides financial and technical support by the Suchitwa mission. Manpower and enterprise formation assistance is given to Kudumbasree. Clean Kerala Company is facilitating the disposal of nonbiodegradable waste from MCF to RRF. In Manjeri Municipality, 61 women members from Kudumbasree unit collect Segregated clean waste from houses and shops, which are then transported to RRF. The Company also shredded waste plastics using a plastic shredding machine at RRF, which are then used for road tarring. The shredded plastics are sold to PWD and similar institutions, generating profit.
1:4 RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY
Constructing artificial structures must be eco-friendly and avoid disrupting the natural balance. Sustainable endeavors are crucial for preserving resources for future generations. Human activities generate waste, which, if unmanaged, poses environmental and health risks. Waste management facilities have developed solutions to minimize harm. In Kerala, Municipal Solid Waste Management is a pressing concern due to its susceptibility to environmental and health impacts. The situation demands a war-footing approach. Municipalities are responsible for managing solid waste within their limits, as per the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000. Success depends on awareness, local involvement, and public participation. Notably, migrants contribute 49% of Kerala’s waste, the highest among all sectors. Municipalities are nearing maximum capacity, yet Government Waste Management remains a low priority, despite escalating issues. The government must focus on this critical area, which has not received adequate attention in management studies.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
1) Borkar, A., and Paul, B. (2015) examines that job and workers’ satisfaction amongst the workers employed in the organized and unorganized retail enterprises of Mumbai. Drawing cues from the primary data, the article portrays personal and household characteristics and features of labor market in organized and unorganized retail sectors. It establishes that the workers of the organized retail are satisfied with the physical aspects of job while not happy with the social aspects. The workers in unorganized retail are reversed for the same. On relationship with employers/ supervisors, the workers in the organized sector appear far more satisfied than those in the unorganized sector who showed a moderate degree of satisfaction.
2)Nayak,N., analyses that social security for workers in the unorganized sector does not go far enough in assuring 'access rights' to natural resources enjoyed as per tradition by certain groups of workers. Where organizations of such workers are strong, as in the state of Kerala, they have agitated in a sustained manner for recognition of their rights. The author argues that due to the lack of state support, these organizations are now dwindling in number.
3)Prasad,D.S.(2024) investigated that Haritha Karma Sena is one of the latest entities in the informal sector occupation of Kerala in the solid waste management sector. The author attempts to study the role, significance, issues, challenges and causative factors women face as SWM workers in urban Kerala. The author found that HKS does need initiatives to get a leg up with support from the government. Along with the present system analysis, the way forward is also suggested in order to overcome challenges and issues.
4)Goswami,P.(2009) reports that the first attempt to legislate security for 94% of the workforce, the Unorganized Workers' Social Security Act 2008 is welcome. Though the Act does not make it mandatory on the part of the government to introduce a new welfare scheme. This divides the unorganised workers into Below Poverty Line and Above Poverty Line which is unfair, and is silent on the issue of a national minimum wage, improvement in working conditions and problems relating to women workers, such as unequal pay and sexual harassment at the workplace.
5) UNEP, (2015) noted that The Global Waste Management Outlook, a collective effort of the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Waste Management Association, is a pioneering scientific global assessment on the state of waste management and a call for action to the international community. Prepared as a follow up to the Rio+20 Summit and as a response to UNEP Governing Council decision GC 27/12, the document establishes the rationale and the tools for taking a holistic approach towards waste management and recognizing waste and resource management as a significant contributor to sustainable development and climate change mitigation.
6) Anghinolfi et al., (2016), Noted that the mixed integer linear programming model to optimize door to door waste collection for materials minimize operational costs and environmental impacts while considering factors like waste generation rates, collection frequencies, and vehicles capacities. This model’s effectiveness in reducing costs and environment impacts.
7)Mehra,R., et al. (1996) examines that generation and managing of urban solid waste is a pressing problem that grows fast in Hochiminh City as well as in the whole world. Recycling industry also plays an important role in solving a city's problem of waste management. The very structured private collection, trading and recycling system involves door-to-door itinerant buyers-completely women-who purchase solid waste products from households.The author observed that incomes of itinerant buyers are small and perhaps falling. Yet, their self-employment is crucial since they are normally the family's primary breadwinner.
8) Singh Jaydeep et al., (2014) mentioned that the Rapid economic growth, urbanization and increasing population have caused resource consumption to increase, and consequently the release of large amounts of waste to the environment. From a global perspective, current waste and resource management lacks a holistic approach covering the whole chain of product design, raw material extraction, production, consumption, recycling and waste management. He also noted that the progress and different sustainability challenges facing the global waste management system and to manage resources and waste sustainably, waste management requires a more systems-oriented approach that addresses the root causes for the problems.
9) Thomas Elizabeth et al., (2023) discovered that Waste management is one of the leading issues that the world is facing today. Globally, data reveals a massive dump of 2.12 billion tons of waste on the planet. They highly alarming rate that needs to be addressed because mismanaged waste and waste dumping take the lives of about a million people worldwide. Waste management plays a crucial role in conserving natural resources by reducing the need for new raw materials. Recycling and reusing waste materials, such as paper, plastic, and metal, can save energy, water, and other resources. C. Public health: Poor waste management can pose significant health risks, particularly in developing countries. Inadequate disposal of medical waste, for instance, can lead to the spread of infectious diseases.
10)Kumar et al., (2019) noted that the impacts of doorstep waste collection on waste segregation and contamination rates in urban areas. Its significant improvements in the potential of door step collection to improve waste management outcomes. The importance of considering household characteristics and awareness of waste management practices in implementing effective waste collection systems.
3.METHODOLOGY
Both primary and secondary data were used for this study. Primary data from 40 respondents was collected through personal interviews and schedule methods. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Secondary data includes data collected from newspapers such as Times of India, The Hindu and Deccan Chronicle, Data sources from the government of Kerala, Manjeri Municipality documents which include the list of HKS workers, list of HKS workers who collect plastic waste and plastic collection report (July 2024).
3.1 Sampling Frame
The sampling frame has been fixed by consulting the Municipality. The total number of HKS workers in the particular Municipality were obtained. Out of SIXTY-SIX workers we collected data from 40 HKS women workers by the method of random sampling and snowball technique.
3.2 Analysis Tools
Primary and secondary data including information about monthly income, working conditions have been used for analysis.
Percentage, ratio, charts and diagrams were used to analyze the data in this study
3.3 SOCIO ECONOMIC PROFILE OF HKS WORKERS IN MANJERI MUNICIPALITY
To analyze the socio-economic condition of Haritha Karma Sena workers of Manjeri Municipality for the year 2023-24, the following information has been collected by conducting a scheduled survey with a sample size of 40 respondents. Data collected from the Haritha Karma Sena workers include personal information, income, wage information, information on assistance received from the government, and about work, work environment and working conditions. To avoid the possibility of receiving inaccurate answers or incomplete answers due to difficulties in understanding the question, the scheduled survey method was used.
4 PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA
Manjeri is the one of the Kerala's biggest Municipality. Manjeri Municipality is a Local Self Government Institution with a jurisdiction of 3 villages, Manjeri, Payyanad and Narukara. It is the trade hub of Malappuram district and also, its industrial capital. Most of the government institutions and many offices such as district court, district hospital, district medical office are located at Manjeri. Manjeri municipality has a population of 97102 (2011 census) with growth rate of 18.09 percent during 2001-2011. Population density of the city is 1830 persons per km. The male population is 47171 whereas female population is 49931. Manjeri municipality has 50 wards, ward number 3 is the most populous ward with a population of 2667 and ward number 31 is the least populous ward with population of 1060. There is total 50 wards in Manjeri Municipality.
4.4.1 SOCIAL PROFILE OF HKS WORKERS
1.Gender Distribution
SOURCE: FIELD SURVEY
The female to male sex ratio of the workers in the Municipality reveals that about 93 percent of the workforce consists of females.
2.RATION CARD STATUS
SOURCE: FIELD SURVEY
The above given data reveals that about 90 percent of the workers belong to the BPL category
and 10 percent of the workers belong to the APL category. This reveals that more than 90 percent
40 of the workers are economically weak.
3.ECONOMIC PROFILE OF HKS WORKERS
1. Details of dependents
SOURCE: FIELD SURVEY
From the population size of 40 about 45 percent of the workers are the sole income earners of the family consisting of 2-4 members. Out of the 45 percent of the workers 44.44 percent are finding it difficult to run their family with the income received and the remaining 55.55 percent find the income earned sufficient to run their families. The remaining 55 percent of the 22-population size belong to families where more than one person is employed either as an irregular laborers or in regular paid labour. Out of the 55 percent of the workers who are not the sole income-earners of the family, 14.3 percent find the income earned insufficient to run their family and the remaining 85.7 percent find the income received sufficient to run them family. The workers who found the income insufficient mostly belong to the economically
weaker section.
2. INCOME STATISFICATION
SOURCE: FIELD STUDY
The figure shows the data on income satisfaction of Haritha Karma Sena workers. Income of a
Haritha Karma Sena worker depends on how many households they cover on a monthly basis for collecting plastic and biodegradable wastes. The workers collect their fees from the households monthly and hand it over to Municipality. Later the income is paid to the
workers by the Municipality at the end of the month after taking ten percent of its share for buying tools and other equipment. Most of the households still show reluctance to pay the fee which affects their income.
From the previous analysis about the income earners and sources of income it is clear why 75 percent of the workers expressed dissatisfaction about the income earned from Haritha Karma Sena work. The main reason for this dissatisfaction is either because they are the sole income earner or they have more than 3 members in their family to provide for. Also, they belong to the economically backward section. According to the researchers' findings, the workers had not received fair compensation for their labor because the work was highly burdensome nowadays and the wages were low. The remaining 25 percent are satisfied with their income.
3.3.4 GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND POLICIES FOR HKS WORKERS
SOURCE: FIELD STUDY
The figure shows whether or not the Haritha Karma Sena workers in Manjeri Municipality received any kind of pension from the government. According to data, 85 percent of workers do not receive any government pensions. The rest 15 percent of the workers are receiving government pensions like widow pension, old age pension etc. But they are not entitled to receive any pension being a Haritha Karma Sena worker. This may be because of the absence of an age restriction to work as a HKS worker as such, provision for retirement pension from the job is absent. Any adult individual can be part of Haritha Karma Sena
3.3.5 WORK, WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS’ PROFILE OF HKS WORKERS
1. Timely Receival of Collection Fee from Households
The researchers found that more than 80 percent of the workers responded that they did not face any difficulty in receiving the collection fee on time while others expressed issues like indifferent attitude and deliberate postponement of payment of due amount by the households.
2. Impact of COVID-19 on Work and Earnings
The respondents revealed their experience during the Covid 19 period. The researchers found that more than 80 percent of workers responded that Covid-19 pandemic did not take a huge toll on their work and earnings, in fact as people were confined to their homes and had no other way for disposal of waste, the waste collection increased which in turn increased their income. The workers went on collecting wastes from different households by adhering to necessary safety protocols. A small fraction of workers expressed minor issues like health problems due to COVID-19 which deterred them from working and one of the Workers responded that the question did not apply to him as he joined the team recently.
3.Family Time after Work
Haritha Karma Sena workers do not get enough time with their family after work. A majority of the respondents, 67 percent of Haritha Karma Sena workers said responded that they do not get enough family time, workers with small kids and sick family members are finding it difficult to spend time with them because of their job. Haritha Karma Sena workers, especially female workers, find difficulty in striking a balance between household chores and work. The remaining 33 percent of HKS said that they get enough time to spend with their family and they give priority to their children and family more than anything else. They manage to keep a balance between family and work so that family won't miss them.
SUGGESTIONS
Ensure Access to Clean and Well-Maintained Sanitation Facilities, including regular cleaning, maintenance, and adequate amenities, to support the health, dignity, and well-being of Haritha Karma Sena workers.
Implement a convenient and transparent online payment system
Expand the scope of Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) Services.
Provide Index- Linked wage Revision with performance – Based Incentives.
Provide Comprehensive personal protective Equipment (PPE) and Uniforms to Haritha karma sena workers.
Transformative Leadership Development program for supervisors
Provide Comprehensive social security packages like Life insurance, Health insurance, pension scheme, Retirement benefits etc for Haritha karma sena.
Public Awareness and Education campaign for Haritha karma sena.
Provision of affordable credit facilities.
Implement a “Haritha karma sena worker welfare Fund “ to provide financial assistance, benefits, and support to workers in need, including medical emergencies, education expenses, and retirement benefits.
Provision for regular and free health-checkups.
CONCLUSION
Efficient waste management has become the need of the hour in this fast changing world. To Tackle this issue, trained forces like the Haritha Karma Sena must be hired around the globe Especially in highly populated countries like India. This not only helps in simplifying waste Collection but also helps in solving the problem of unemployment. Ensuring the socioeconomic Well being of such workers is also important. Both the citizens and the government must take Up equal responsibility in ensuring the well-being of the workers.The efforts of Haritha karma Sena workers are remarkable and appreciable. In this paper, our study is “The Unseen Struggles: Social security challenges of Haritha karma Sena workers in Manjeri municipality .Hence the study recommends that health education programs should be conducted on a Regular basis for all the workers who engaged in garbage collection, segregation and activities Related to waste management and the relevant authorities regarding occupational health Diseases and health hazards, and their prevention with emphasis on the advantage of Prevention over cure. Workers should be provided with and encouraged to use safety Equipment such as nose-and-mouth masks to prevent respiratory problems, slip-resistant Footwear to prevent falls, and heavy gloves and PPE kit during work in the field.
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