In Ram Nagar Colony, there is an abundance of people who work as informal waste workers. They collect and sort waste to earn a living. Some of them also bring waste from different places in Amritsar city. These workers play an important role in keeping the city clean.

On 1 March 2024, something special happened in Ram Nagar Colony. It happened to be the World Waste Pickers Day, and the FINILOOP Project team organized a celebration for  Informal Waste Workers (IWWs). During this event, the team talked to the workers about forming self-help groups (SHGs) , where they could support each other and work together to solve common problems.

At the celebration, the FINILOOP team also shared information about a government scheme called the Sukanya Samriddhi Account. This scheme is for the daughters of waste workers who are less than 10 years old. It helps parents save money for their daughters’ future education and marriage.

Objectives of Sukanya card:

• To provide financial security and support for the education and welfare of children belonging to informal waste worker families.
• To promote inclusivity and social justice by addressing the needs of marginalized communities in Punjab.
• To empower informal waste worker families by facilitating access to government schemes and programs.

After hearing about this scheme, 5 women from the self-help group became interested in opening accounts for their daughters. These women, who are also waste workers, knew that saving money for their daughters’ future was very important.

To open these accounts, there is a need for some important documents, like Aadhaar card, birth certificate, PAN card, and photos. Community Mobilizer Maninder Kaur gather all these documents from the IWW Women. Then, she met with a person named Amarjit Singh Sandhu the Postmaster at the nearest post office to get more information about the Sukanya Samriddhi Account scheme. Together, they ensured that no obstacle would stand in the way of their progress.

On 9 April 2024, FINILOOP team’s collective efforts bore fruit as 5 Sukanya Samriddhi Accounts were opened, marking a milestone in the journey of empowerment for Ram Nagar Colony. These accounts aren’t just about savings; they represent hope, opportunity, and the promise of a better tomorrow for the daughters of IWWs.

This was a big achievement for the waste workers and their families. These accounts mean that the girls will have some money saved for their future education and marriage. It shows that with determination and support, even small communities like Ram Nagar Colony can make a big difference in their children’s lives. The TOP Team will continue such initiatives in future too, to achieve  project goals.