Collect garbage, earn up to Rs 35,000 by working in Haritha Karma Sena

KOCHI: Garbage removal is a lucrative job today. Yes, you read that right. There are people who earn up to Rs 35,000 per month working in the Haritha Karma Sena. There is an influx of applicants to 'Harithakarma Sena' in search of employment.

Harithakarma Sena was formed by the state government in 2016 under Kudumbashree. The work is to collect organic and inorganic waste under the local bodies and deliver it to designated centres. User fees will be given from households and private institutions. The Kochi Corporation charges a monthly fee of Rs 75 for plastic collection and another Rs 75 for collecting organic waste. The user fee can be shared among the personnel. You can also earn extra money by selling products from waste and making fertilizers.

In places like Malappuram and Manjeri, there are people earning between Rs 25,000 to 35,000 per month. There are 34,000 Haritha Sena workers in the state. Most of them are women.

Haritakarma Sena in Kochi

Haritakarma Sena was formed in Kochi following the fire at the Brahmapuram plant in March. Of the 943 registered, 600 are women.

On April 8, 2001, the project of collecting waste from households was started under the leadership of VK Prakashan, Vyttila Chakkaraparambu Division Councilor. In the division with 1600 families, only 900 families were willing to give garbage. Four women Kudumbashree workers were collecting the waste by charging Rs 20 per month. In 2009, Kochi was chosen as a Zero Waste City in the JNU RM project. But now the workforce here is not efficient as before.