No survey has been conducted to identify the rag-pickers in the country.

In order to facilitate waste-pickers (also called rag-pickers) to avail the benefits under Loan and Skill Development schemes implemented by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), they were included in the target group of NSKFDC along with Safai Karmacharis in 2016. The total 66,365 safai karamcharis including waste pickers have been given skill training and 1,56,215 safai karamcharis including waste pickers have been given loan on subsidised rate of interest by NSKFDC through their schemes for socio-economic upliftment programme since 2016.

This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today.

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MG/RNM