Ammu

Ammu, a 30-year-old widow and mother of four, migrated with her family from Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, in search of work. Having lost her parents at the age of seven, she was raised by relatives who supported her education up to Class 7. Over time, she found work at a Dry Waste Collection Centre, where waste picking became her primary livelihood. After the death of her husband three years ago,  Ammu continued working to support her children’s education and well-being.

Today, through the E-Rozgar initiative, she has transitioned from informal waste work to becoming one of the lead women managing the first electrical waste collection unit—marking a significant milestone in her journey. Determined to operate the collection point efficiently, inspire women from similar backgrounds, and challenge stereo types around women’s roles in waste work, Ammu aspires to build a stable and respectable livelihood.