Jishnu Dev Varma Kicks Off Health Camp for Waste Pickers in Chembur

A free health check-up camp and TB awareness campaign for women waste pickers opened on July 7 at the Fine Arts Cultural Centre in Chembur, Mumbai, inaugurated by Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.

The initiative forms part of the ‘TB Mukt Mumbai’ campaign, launched by Maharashtra Lok Bhavan together with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and included the launch of the NAMASTE Scheme.

Film star Jackie Shroff joined the Governor at the event to distribute Ayushman Bharat Health Cards and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to the women waste pickers in attendance.

Sushila Sable, Vice President of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers, was among those present, along with Corporator and Ward Committee Chairperson Asha Marathe.

BMC’s Additional Municipal Commissioners, Prajakta Lavangare Verma and Dr. Vipin Sharma, attended the camp, as did Jyoti Mhapsekar and Dr. Prashant Narnaware, Secretary to the Governor.

Women waste pickers from the Deonar area attended the camp along with Dr. Kiran Dighavkar, BMC’s Deputy Municipal Commissioner for Solid Waste Management.