BMC, Lok Bhavan Launch NAMASTE Scheme Camp for Deonar’s Waste Pickers

The NAMASTE Scheme and a free health check-up and TB awareness camp for women waste pickers were launched on July 7 at the Fine Arts Cultural Centre, Chembur, Mumbai.

The launch was carried out by Maharashtra Lok Bhavan in association with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), as part of the wider ‘TB Mukt Mumbai’ campaign.

Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma inaugurated the camp, and was joined by film star Jackie Shroff in distributing Ayushman Bharat Health Cards and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to attendees.

Women waste pickers from the Deonar area were among those who received the health cards and PPE kits at the event.

Sushila Sable, Vice President of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers, and Asha Marathe, Corporator and Chairperson of the Ward Committee, were present at the launch.

BMC officials in attendance included Additional Municipal Commissioners Prajakta Lavangare Verma and Dr. Vipin Sharma, and Dr. Kiran Dighavkar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner for Solid Waste Management, along with Jyoti Mhapsekar and Dr. Prashant Narnaware, Secretary to the Governor.