Parisar Bhagini Vikas Sangh (PBVS)

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Primary information

Year formed

1999

Registered in

2004

Formally registered

On

Language

English, Hindi, Konkani, Marathi

Number of groups

200

Number of members

3,000

Type of members

Members are waste picker organizations, Members are waste pickers

Occupation of members

Solid waste managers, Waste collectors, Waste pickers

Type of Organization

Community based organization, Cooperative, Federation, Federation of cooperatives, Network of cooperatives, Self-help group, Women´s group

Organizational Reach

Local, National

Workplace of members

Collection from companies, Companies, Door to door, Dumpsite, Fixed, Home-based, Landfill, Open, Sanitary landfill, Slums, Sorting center, Street

Membership

Yes

Organization Structure

Chairperson - Managing Community- Co-ordinator- Project Assistant- Community Worker.

Objectives

1. To plan and implement a programme for income generation activity among the poor women in urban areas. 2. To assist the self help group for poor women. 3. To seek assistance from an organization with the similar objective for helping the same self-help group. 4. To implement all the schemes under slum development schemes that are beneficial for under taking employment guarantee schemes for poor women in urban areas. 5. Implement income generation programmed for improvement of the quality of life of poor women in urban areas and members of the self-help group and distribute profit in just manner. 6. For the development of poor women in urban areas, accept fund from Government organization, Bank, National and International Non-Government Organization and all Organization under the United Nation. 7. To undertake Sweeping and Cleaning Jobs at Housing Societies, Colonies, Offices etc., and assist Rag piker women in getting proper wages for this job and distribute the same. 8. For over all development of the waste-picker women, implement the different program as per their needs. 9. For the protection of the environment, promote the production of manure, pots for manure, magic powder etc., to motivate people to take part in the sorting of dry and wet waste and its proper management. 10. To motivate members for saving reduction in expenses, co-operation self-reliance. 11. In order to complete the projects undertaken by the organization, raise funds through loan shares, deposits, donation, grants financial assistance etc., to acquire property, make necessary agreements for guarantee. 12. To assist the member to get raw material, machinery, services and facilities for the production of goods. To assist them to get short term/medium-term financial assistance from banks or other organization on the basis of personal bonds other guaran-tees. 13. To undertake research, organization exhibitions, study tours, promote the use of mod-ern technology in the activities of production or services managed by the member of the organization and motivate them to participate in such a programme. 14. To organize various programs for the development of the organization, its members, co-operative movement, society, national integration, women development. 15. It includes cultural and educational activates related to family planning, health blood donation, drug deaddiction child marriage, dowry, adult education literacy superstitions, pollution, laws pertaining to women. 16. For the activities of the organization to buy raw material, implements and machinery for the organization and its members. To acquire for office space, go downs, vehicles for transport etc. and rent to provide raw materials, implement to the members either on personal bond, against some guarantee or on rent. 17. To curtail superstitious traditions and to promote economic, moral and social development of the members. 18. To share knowledge about new developments in business and implement them. 19. To appoint experts, trained officers and workers for the management of the organi-zation, monitor their work and reduce their number as per needs. 20. To undertake all the tasks necessary to fulfill the above mentioned objectives.

Education and training

Business & project management, Cooperativism & solidarity economy, Hygiene education, Leadership training, Learning exchange, Literacy & school, Mobilization, Rights & duties, Risks & health, Waste management

Partnering organizations

Stree Mukti SanghataStree Mukti Sanghatana/ The Alliance of Indian Waste-pickers.

Funding

Donor, Donor funded, Government, Local population pay fee, Local population pay fee, Membership fees, Self funded

Internal elections

Every 3 years

Women composition

100,0% All members are women

Social networking sites

Benefits

Member benefits

Child assistance programmes, Clean & healthy environment, Education programmes, Health care & insurance, Id cards, Job creation & source of income, Legal assistance, Occupational health & safety, Savings or credit scheme, Social & pension benefits, Training & advocacy

Safety & Technology

First aid kits, Gloves, Masks, No, Risk training,, Safety boots, Yes

Services

What kind of relationship exists with the municipality?

Providers of infrastructure

How is the relationship with the municipality?

Excellent and/or friendly

Types of materials

Biodegradable, Biodegradable waste, Bottles, Cans, Electronic waste, Glass, Household items, Metals, Organics, Paper and cardboard, Plastic, Plastics, Shoe soles

Are they selling to middlemen?

Yes

Activities

Buying materials, Cleaning, Collecting materials, Collecting waste, Collection of recyclables, Collection of waste, Community storage of materials, Composting, Recycling, Selling materials, Sensitization of locals, Sorting waste, Special collections from large generators of waste, Training and capacity building, Transportation, Waste collection, Waste management, Waste sorting

Sorting Spaces

Sorting center / sorting workshops

Treatmet of organic materials

Biogas, Composting

Challenges to access waste

Availability of waste, Exploitation, Harassment from authorities, Lack of education & training, Lack of infrastructure & resources, Lack of recognition, Negative attitude towards waste, Price fluctuations of waste, Privatization, Transportation

Complementary Information

Information source

PVBS coordinator provided the information to the secretariat of the Alliance of Indian Wastepickers

Comments / Narrative

Parisar Bhagini Vikas Sangha is a federation of self-help groups of waste pickers. Parisar Vikas programme, started by Stree Mukti Sanghatana (SMS) in 1998 aimed at addressing the problems of waste picking women engaged in the ‘menial’ tasks of ‘cleaning waste’ and also the problem of waste management engulfing current urban existence. An important outcome of the Parisar Vikas (Neighbourhood Development) Project is the formation of PBVS which is a federation of 160/200 self-help groups. It has an executive committee of 9 members (+ 2 advisors from SMS) elected in a democratic process. PBVS works in around 9 communities which have community-level committees with two members from each group which meet every month to discuss the problems and solutions facing waste picker community.

PBVS is now registered with Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) as Community Development Society. It is registered as a trust with Charity commissioner of Mumbai. PBVS is affiliated to SMS. As PBVS is recognized body at Municipal level they have been given trucks and spaces for sheds by MCGM in the wards A, E, F-North, M-East, M-West, N, S & T. PBVS maintains these sheds, collects dry waste through its members, stores it at sheds and disposes it when enough material is collected. In addition to this PBVS also conducts following activities under the guidance of Stree Mukti Sanghatana.

1. Monitoring of internal lending group of individual SHGs, their social and financial Audit.
2. Economic assistance to needy groups.
3. Management of 2 canteens in Tata Institute of social science (TISS) since 2008.
4. Conducting awareness sessions on life skills, training for leadership skills and alternate skills like composting etc.
5. Helping women for employment.
6. Health awareness sessions and health camps for members.
7. Promotion of education for the children of the members.

The PBVS affiliates are spread across Maharashtra: Thane, Mumbai, New Mumbai, Wardha, Yavatmal and Buldhana