WASTE PICKER RETURNS LOST JEWELLERY, REWARDED

PUNE: Swati Gaikwad, a waste picker won hearts and accolades of people, including the owner of a lost piece of jewellery after Gaikwad found and returned the ornament.

Gaikwad found the mangalsutra, a necklace worn by married women of the Hindu community, in the garbage thrown away by the family of Rajashri Dhumne, a resident of Durga society in Sadashiv peth, according to a statement issued by Swach.

Swach is a workers' co-operative and a public private partnership that was a result of the work of garbage pickers' union Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP), according to the company's website.

“Working hard for our living is not a problem. All we look for is a bit of support in the form of segregated waste and to be treated with the same consideration as you treat other professionals,” said Gaikwad.

Of the 16 houses from where Gaikwad collects waste, one happened to be that of Madhav Jagtap, deputy commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). After learning about Gaikwad’s deeds, the PMC official has announced to help Gaikwad’s daughter, Apurva, who recently passed Class 10 exams.