Alternative livelihoods for 500 ragpicker families

Sk.Soidul

Soidul, 58,  Narkeldanga, has 4 children. He has 1 daughter who is married and 3 sons. 2 sons go to the residential school and youngest son Zakir is going to the formal school in the locality and also coming to our Narkeldanga educational centre.

His wife is involved in solid waste segregation work and earns about Rs.200 (US$ 2.43). Soidul was a Rag Picker. He received a goods cycle van from Tiljala Shed 7 years ago. With this van he used to do loading and unloading work from workshop and factories and used to earn Rs.1800 (US$22) to 2200 (US$ 26.8) a day which completely transformed his life. With the earnings he build a nice home in his ancestral village.

Unfortunately, the van broke down in 2021 and then he rented a van which now costs him Rs.500 (US6) per week. But with his hard work, he is able to earn Rs.1500 (US$ 18.29) to 1800 (US$21.95) per day which is a good income considered in these communities. The scorching heat of the summer  has put his income down but he is very hopeful of again earning high income as the weather changes.

With his earnings, his daughter was married off and was able to renovate his ancestral home in the village. He is also taking care of all the expenses of the children and giving them proper education.

Soidul story is inspiring. From a small time rag picker to an entrepreneur, he needs all the praise. 

Rehana, 45  

Rehana alias Ayaton comes from Narkeldanga is a 45 years old lady. She had received a loan of Rs.10,000 (US$ 121.95), six years ago for starting a vegetable selling business. She used to sell fresh vegetables from door-to-door carrying on her head in a big Basket.  Her earnings were between Rs. 500 (US$ 6.09) to 700 (US$ 8.54) on a daily basis.

She has 4 children, out of which 2 daughters are married off. Rehana met with a road accident in 2018, where a Truck hit her and as a result, she suffered multiple fractures on her leg resulting in restricted movement for life. Tiljala SHED came to her rescue and treated her leg in one of the reputed government hospitals and provided support for medicines and food rations. She also got support from the Association of Rag Pickers of Calcutta (ARP) (an organisation facilitated by Tiljala SHED for the welfare of Rag Pickers), which was a relief for her. Tiljala SHED took all her medical expenses and her leg is now in a better condition.  Tiljala SHED also arranged a walker for her during her therapy for her leg. After the accident it took almost one and a half years to heal. Her children were all small then and this was one of the most difficult phases of her life.

Though, she cannot work like previously, so she has changed the nature of her current work.

She is now involved in Waste segregation work and earns a small income of Rs.200 (US$ 2.44) to Rs.300 (US$ 3.66).

Rojina, the married girl of Rehana had taken over her mother vegetable selling job, because her mother cannot walk with heavy weight.  Rojina has 2 sons and 1 daughter. Her daughter attends Narkeldanga education Centre run by Tiljala Shed.

Rehana’s two sons Abul and Noor are now working in a factory making paper boxes and supporting the family with Rs.3000 (US$36.58) and Rs.4000(48.78) per month respectively. Noor is married and staying in the same house with his wife and little child. Her daughter also contributes to the family and is continuing the work which her mother had started. Fresh vegetables have a good demand in the community, and she earns a fair come to support the family. She wishes to expand the business with a vegetable cart full of mixed variety of vegetables.

Tiljala SHED not only gave her economic independence by helping her with the loan for starting her own business but also helped her when she needed it the most during her accident days.

Tiljala SHED helped her recover and was beside her till the time she started her work as a waste segregator in which she does not have to do any weight lifting work and still can earn a small amount for her family. 

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