The Uttarakhand government reported to the High Court on Thursday that a significant number of ragpickers in the state are benefiting from various state welfare schemes. This update comes in response to the High Court’s directive issued on December 26, which requested the state to formulate a dedicated welfare scheme for ragpickers and submit a comprehensive report by January 2.
The High Court’s intervention followed a suo motu cognizance based on a distressing report from the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA). The report highlighted that many ragpickers and their children were being left out of the benefits provided by government schemes, adversely affecting their socio-economic conditions.
In the latest court session, the Director of the Urban Development Department presented findings via video conferencing, revealing that out of an estimated 549 ragpickers identified in the state, many now possess ration cards, Aadhaar cards, and voter IDs. This registration has enabled them to access several governmental aids and programs.
The court appointed advocate Navnish Negi as amicus curiae to ensure the effective implementation of these welfare initiatives. A division bench, including Chief Justice Guhanathan Narendar and Justice Manoj Tiwari, tasked Negi with personally meeting the ragpickers to verify the on-ground execution of these schemes. He is to report his findings back to the court within a week.
However, discrepancies in the distribution of benefits were noted in the SLSA’s survey report, which pointed out that despite the availability of schemes, the ragpickers’ children continue to engage in similar labor, hindering their mental and intellectual growth. This contradiction underscores the challenges in the practical application of the welfare schemes intended to uplift this marginalized community.
