DESIGN FOR RAGPICKERS
Audience-Ragpickers
Design- Mahendra Chauhan
Materials- Aluminium, fabric with polyster
Copyrights: Mahendra Chauhan
Year of completion-2002
Project was sponsored by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Gujarat, INDIA. After intensive study of the waste management system of Ahmedabad, its been decided to put focus on Ragpickers. Ragpickers which also known as 'kabadiwala' in India collects the waste from the streets and households, segregate it and sell it to other bigger 'kabadiwalas' to earn their livelihood.
This product helps in creating professional image for Ragpickers. In a country where ragpickers contribute around 33 percentage of recycling but still considered as a socially discarded community. This product is a bold step for their upliftment.
SYSTEM’S VIEW
In existing scenario solid waste is directly dumped in to the land filling areas. It results in loss of many economical benefits which can be generated by recycling. Rag picking as a profession helps in generating some valuable benefits to society. Waste includes paper ,plastic, metal cans and glass. Paper and plastics are preferred material for road side ragpickers.
Concept:
Product features include a piercing tool, a light weight trolley, with detachable bag. It has 4 flexible partition, which are clipped to a steel rim . Partitions slides over rim to adjust areas. Partitions helps in source segregation of waste. It reduces overall collection time, increases overall efficiency of Rag pickers.
Design of a picking tool has few pointed projections, which pierces the paper and plastic and helps in effective waste collection while maintaining proper hygiene. Picking tool has 2 parts. Handle and a piercing unit. Height variation in the product helps in sorting out waste from the municipal dustbins.
No direct hand contact with refuse, very few bending operation, source segregation of waste, improved image in the society are some of the salient features of design.
