NGO launches livelihood initiative for waste pickers in Vijayawada

The Dalit Bahujan Resource Centre (DBRC) has initiated a comprehensive livelihood support programme for waste pickers and hair collectors operating in Vijayawada, addressing the economic vulnerabilities of this marginalised workforce. The initiative represents an effort to provide skill development and income-generation opportunities for workers engaged in informal recycling and collection activities across the city.

The programme focuses on equipping participants with practical skills and resources to improve their earning potential while ensuring safer working conditions. By targeting this informal sector workforce, the DBRC aims to bridge gaps in existing social safety nets and create sustainable pathways for economic advancement among communities traditionally excluded from formal employment structures.

Vijayawada, as one of Andhra Pradesh's major urban centres, hosts a significant population of informal workers dependent on waste collection and similar activities for survival. The livelihood initiative underscores growing recognition among civil society organisations of the need for targeted interventions that address the specific challenges faced by this demographic group, including income instability, lack of formal recognition, and limited access to social welfare schemes.