SWaCH Cooperative – Transforming a Stigmatised Occupation into Decent Work
SWaCH Cooperative – Transforming a Stigmatised Occupation into Decent Work
Authors : Ujwala Samarth and Aparna Susarla
This case study tells the story of SWaCH Coop, a wholly-owned workers’ cooperative which not only enabled a marginalised and historically deprived community to protect and promote its livelihoods rights, but which has also transformed waste collection from a precarious and stigmatised occupation into more regular ‘decent work’.
From 1993 when they first organised themselves to 2008 when SWaCH was launched, how have Pune’s waste pickers protected their livelihoods and how do they plan to retain the space within the urban economy that they have created for themselves? What are the threats they face? What impact, in real terms, has the SWaCH Coop had on their lives? Does the SWaCH model offer lessons to other cities? These are some of the questions this case study will try to address.
The story of SWaCH hinges on the coming together of people, activists
and waste pickers; waste pickers bonding with other waste pickers in
solidarity; and waste pickers, government and citizens coming together to
operationalise SWaCH Cooperative.
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