Empowering Waste Pickers Communities Across Tamil Nadu

For over a decade, ATSWA Trust has been at the forefront of empowering rag picker communities across Tamil Nadu—from the vast dump yards of Kodungaiyur in Chennai to underserved pockets in Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Ranipet, Villupuram and Chengalpattu. Our work is grounded in deep, consistent engagement—beginning at the grassroots with trust-building and crisis response, and evolving into a sustained mission for dignity, health, inclusion, and sustainable livelihood alternatives.

Awareness, Rights & Health Sensitization

We conduct inclusive, community-led outreach sessions on:

• Occupational health and safety
• Sanitation, hygiene, and waste handling practices
• Gender equity, child rights, and education
• Government schemes, documentation, and entitlements

Our sessions reach women, youth, children, and elderly waste workers and are often facilitated by trained community leaders. We don’t just inform—we empower.

Life-Saving Safety Kits & Relief Support

Rag pickers risk their lives daily with no basic protection. To address this, ATSWA has distributed:

• Protective gloves, masks, and boots to reduce exposure to hazardous materials
• Sanitary kits for women and adolescent girls
• Food rations and nutrition packs during floods, lockdowns, and other emergencies
• First-aid kits and basic healthcare support

These efforts are often the first and only source of aid during crisis periods, reinforcing community trust and safety.

Grassroots Crisis Response & Inclusive Outreach

Our approach is community-centred and field-driven. We:

• Identify real-time needs during disasters and disease outbreaks
• Mobilize partnerships and donor support for swift intervention
• Prioritize Dalit, migrant, single-parent, and female-headed households to ensure no one is left behind

From Kodungaiyur to Ennore, from peri-urban slums to rural waste hubs, our teams are always present, always listening, always acting.