Former Waste Picker Becomes Entrepreneur, Life Transformed by Swachhata Udyami Yojana

Schemes operated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment are providing financial assistance and sustainable livelihood opportunities to marginalized communities. In this direction, the story of 30-year-old Ms. Mekala Nancharamma from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community has proven inspiring, as she moved away from the hardships of waste picking toward self-reliance.

For the past 12 years, Ms. Nancharamma had been working as a waste picker in the Guntur Municipal Corporation. Due to financial constraints, she was unable to attend school and remained illiterate. Because of irregular income and a lack of basic facilities, she and her family faced severe socio-economic challenges and discrimination. Despite these struggles, she remained determined to secure a better future and education for her children.

A turning point came in her life when she received assistance under the 'Swachhata Udyami Yojana' (SUY) through the Navjeevan organization. Under a two-member group project, she was provided financial aid to purchase a tractor-mounted machine for cleaning open drains. The total cost of this project was 16,99,952 rupees, which included a loan of 10,24,964 rupees and a capital subsidy of 6,74,988 rupees.

The use of mechanized equipment has led to a significant increase in Ms. Nancharamma's income. Before receiving the assistance, her monthly income was approximately 8,000 rupees, which has now risen to about 18,000 rupees. With this additional monthly earning of 10,000 rupees, she is now able to meet her household expenses and ensure the education of her children.

Reflecting on this transformation, Ms. Nancharamma stated that the support from the Swachhata Udyami Yojana helped her move beyond traditional waste picking to earn a stable income, strengthening her family's economic security and granting her confidence and respect within society.