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Waste picker in Pune returns lost jewellery, rewarded
Swati Gaikwad found the mangalsutra in the garbage thrown away by the family of Rajashri Dhumne which she returned back
Swati Gaikwad, a waste picker won hearts and accolades of various 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.
“We only want what is rightfully ours. 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. I’m happy to be working in this society where the residents and I have mutual respect and understanding,” 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.
As a result of her gesture, the Dhumne couple, also presented Gaikwad with a reward of ₹4,000 for Apurva’s computer class fee.
“I tried to search for the jewellery in the house. Apart from its value, it also holds great sentimental and emotional value. I had lost hope of finding it. Gold is as good as money and I had no hopes that it would be returned. It was a wonderful moment when I got it back,” said Dhumne.
