Chapter 4 (5): ‘Trial and Error in Privatization; The Case of Hyderabad Solid Waste Management’, essentially goes into greater detail on various topics from the previous chapter (See previous post). A thorough breakdown of the organizational structure within MCH, the socio-economic background of its employees (as well as the employees of private contractors) and a long survey of said employees’ perception and level of satisfaction with their respective jobs and employers is discussed. Despite the great disparity in job security, safety and pay between public and private employees I am once again surprised by the level of satisfaction both sides have for their jobs. I think though, this is where the evidence of my own socio-economic privilege shines through. I could never imagine a life where, relatively speaking, working long hours, doing dangerous work that doesn’t even pay enough to survive is still better than whatever work situation I had before. I’ve had low paying, demeaning jobs for sure, but there is just no comparison. It is humbling and worth remembering.

Which isn’t to say that the conditions that the Hyderabad Kamatans and Kamatees (SWM workers) work in should be considered acceptable. The situation for female workers is particularly bad, often working overnight shifts in the dark; always in danger of violence.  Both men and women working in the private sector risk their health everyday. Since much of the work is done manually, without the aid of trucks with hydraulic lifts, employees often suffer from back pain and injuries. For public employees, their benefits allow them sick leave and medical insurance, but for the private sector, they must endure the pain or miss a day’s pay.

While much is being done to improve the actual service area and quality of waste management, nothing is being done to improve the quality of labor conditions and while labor unions exist and have quite a lot of influence in the public sector, once again, private contractors (though on paper they allow their employees to form unions) take great pains to avoid employing union members.

Most of the article deals in data and numbers, something that is very useful for me in understanding the big picture.

 

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On another note, being an Illustrator it’s nearly impossible for me to engage in any project without trying to find a way to work with visual representation. I have been thinking about poster designs related to waste management for a while. However, I don’t trust myself to know enough about what appeals to the majority of Indians in order to communicate a message effectively. I’ve seen some amazing social justice campaigns coming out of India that fell flat because the message that was intended was not the one received.

I plan on exploring this issue with my artwork in the coming months. It may never be appropriate as a tool for change but perhaps it will start a dialogue.

In addition to that, as soon as this latest round of snow melts, I am going to start a simple photo project for this blog. Whenever I go out for a walk, if I happen upon a piece of trash I make a point of picking it up and disposing of it. It’s something that started soon after I returned from India last year. It’s a compulsion now. Sometimes I can ignore it, if it’s paper, but plastic of any kind drives me crazy.

So, I want to start a project called “One Piece” wherein each time I go for a walk, I photograph and and throw out at least one piece of trash. It’s my hope to encourage other people to do so. It’s such an easy thing to do. Not a bag of trash, just one piece.

 

-Ashley