The COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone — but its impact was especially severe for informal waste pickers, who continued to work through uncertainty and risk.
As several reports highlight, informal waste pickers play a critical role in India’s post-COVID economic recovery. In this conversation, Bharath Sequeira, Project Lead at Saamuhika Shakti, speaks with Nadiya and Jaya Bai, who share their lived experiences of working and surviving during the pandemic.
Their stories offer insight into resilience, essential labour, and the realities behind recovery narratives.
The COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone — but its impact was especially severe for informal waste pickers, who continued to work through uncertainty and risk.
As several reports highlight, informal waste pickers play a critical role in India’s post-COVID economic recovery. In this conversation, Bharath Sequeira, Project Lead at Saamuhika Shakti, speaks with Nadiya and Jaya Bai, who share their lived experiences of working and surviving during the pandemic.
Their stories offer insight into resilience, essential labour, and the realities behind recovery narratives.
