Vision
- To establish a sustainable, decentralized ward-level training model that integrates informal waste pickers (Kachra Vechaks) and contractual workers (Safai Sevaks) into safer, formal, and efficient solid waste management systems.
- To transform urban sanitation by prioritizing worker dignity, occupational safety, and professional development for frontline sanitation workers.
Description
- SAFAL is a capacity-building and refresher training initiative designed to empower frontline sanitation workers involved in solid waste management across Pune.
- Initiated by the Pune Knowledge Cluster following a December 2024 field diagnosis at the Hadapsar Garbage Depot, the program addresses critical gaps such as lack of safety equipment, informal waste-handling risks, and inconsistent ward-level service quality.
- Training is delivered through four-hour intensive Marathi sessions grounded in adult-learning principles, incorporating hands-on practical exercises, gamified role-play, peer discussions, and instruction from NSDC-certified master trainers.
The workshops comprise of the following topics:
- Hygiene & Personal Protection
- Segregation of Waste.
- Colour-coded Bins.
- Types of Plastic Waste.
- Citizen Engagement & Public Relations.
- Teamwork & Collective Action.
- Grievance Escalation & Digital Inclusion.
- Enrolling in Social-Security Schemes.
- Distribution of Personal Protection Kits.
Partners
- Pune Municipal Corporation
- Social Lab Environment Solutions
- Intox Pvt. Ltd. (now Aragen BioSafety Solutions Pvt. Ltd.)
- Centre for Education, Governance and Policy
