The gendered nature of waste management must be acknowledged; we must prioritise the voices of female workers, and meet their needs
Ladakh is both a loved and exploited tourist destination in India. The huge amount of waste generated in Leh during the peak months of May and August can be attributed to the increasing attraction of tourists to the region. During this time, Leh is burdened with 16-18 tonnes of waste, which reduces to 3-4 tonnes during the lean season. The influx of tourists has also restructured the economy and culture of the area.
To tackle this issue, the administration has initiated programs like Project Tsangda to manage waste sustainably. In Ladakh, the waste management in urban areas is the responsibility of the municipal committee; while in rural areas, the wet waste is utilised for cattle and the dry waste is either burnt or buried. In semi-urban areas, Project Tsangda takes charge of keeping the surroundings clean. The project was started by the Leh District administration in 2017 for waste management in semi-urban areas. The term ‘Tsangda’ or ‘Stangda’ refers to cleanliness in the Bothi/Bodhi (Ladakhi) language. Under this Project, waste is collected from households and brought to the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for segregation. The project received a lot of media attention and limelight, given its impact on waste treatment in Leh. However, one aspect of the waste management cycle that is often overlooked is its gendered nature.
It is widely established that waste management is gendered at multiple levels, both in the homes and in the market. Based on this insight, let's explore the waste management system in Choglamsar, Ladakh from a gender standpoint. A distinct gender-based division of labour is evident within Project Tsangda's workforce. Men collect the waste from households and do the physically demanding work of loading and unloading. On the other hand, women are often burdened with more tedious and time-consuming labour, like street sweeping and waste sorting and segregation at the MRF. While all the workers at MRF are women, they are managed by two male supervisors. One might assume that this division of labour is based on one’s skills and preferences. However, the pattern of gender-based work allows one to see the institutional nature of this division.
The systematic gendering of waste management can be observed in the fact that although all sanitation workers are financially vulnerable and lack formal education; women hold a different position. Apart from being economically vulnerable, women have limited access to job opportunities, as compared to men. It is easier for men to find higher-paying jobs in other sectors than women. This becomes a major reason for women opting to work in Project Tsangda. However, it is crucial to note that women sanitation workers cannot only be seen as the victims of the society and economic system, who are pushed into this work. Many workers associate pride with managing the waste. Rigzin Chondol, a sanitation worker, shares that she is proud of her work because she is doing it in the service of the community by making it clean and habitable.
Despite the pride that they associate with their work, the women workers express the lack of sanitation facilities at the MRF as a major challenge that they have to face daily. Waste workers are susceptible to various diseases due to the nature of their work, despite receiving early vaccination and precautionary measures. They often face difficulties wearing the provided kits as they often feel congested. Given that Ladakh is a region characterized by a harsh and arid climate, the local inhabitants, including the workers, may encounter certain health challenges. These can manifest as symptoms such as eye irritation, itchiness, and respiratory issues akin to the common cold. Another issue that women face is discrimination about their regular engagement with waste. Additionally, female workers have reported experiencing rude behaviour from male taxi drivers while requesting that they dispose of waste properly. Some workers also experience mixed reactions and behaviours from people. Lastly, the discussion on waste management cannot be done only in the context of a formal waste management system. Parallel to this exists an informal economy of waste management in Choglamsar, having more than 40 sanitation workers (commonly called as ragpickers) from various regions like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, etc. The administration has taken steps to integrate informal workers into the formal system under the Swachh Bharat Mission. However, it was not successful. The situation of informal workers is even more concerning, with no safety equipment, regular pay, social security, sanitation facilities, and formal recognition.
When asked about their needs by the people and administration, the women workers share the need to be respected for their work. They want the administration to issue them ID Cards, which would provide them formal recognition in society.
(Stanzin Dothon is a climate change activist from Ladakh; Charkha Features)