Fri Nov 08 13:31:13 UTC 2024: ## Chennai Corporation Hosts Awareness Program for Ragpickers, Promoting Safety and Welfare

**Chennai, November 8, 2024:** The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) organized an awareness program on Friday for ragpickers in the Adyar and Perungudi zones, focusing on improving their livelihoods and access to government welfare schemes. The event, held at the Puratchi Thalaivi Amma Ilavasa Thirumana Mahal in Velachery, was conducted in partnership with Kabadiwalla Connect Private Limited, a waste management company, and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

The program aimed to educate ragpickers on how to enhance their working conditions, implement better health and safety protocols, and utilize available government benefits, including the ‘e-Shram’ card. Participants received a training manual containing essential information on obtaining documents such as Aadhaar, ration, and smart cards, as well as helpline numbers for reporting healthcare and emergency issues.

M. Dhinakaran, District Environment Engineer, Chennai South, and R. Menaga, Assistant Environment Engineer, TNPCB, inaugurated the event. Representatives from Kabadiwalla Connect Private Limited, R. Swathi Lakshmi and Y. Aashik Rahman, highlighted ways to access free government services and the importance of using safety equipment. Ms. Lakshmi assured participants that their concerns would be relayed to the relevant officials.

The program underscored the GCC’s commitment to improving the lives of ragpickers and promoting responsible waste management practices in the city.

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