“When one frontline worker decided that no Safai Mitra would be left behind…”
Sometimes transformation does not begin with big announcements — it begins with a simple knock on a door. Under the UTTHAAN initiative, supported by UNDP India and The Coca-Cola Foundation, FINISH Society is working across New Delhi and NCR to connect Safai Mitras (waste workers) and their families with essential government welfare, health, and social security schemes.
One of the strongest pillars of this effort is Vandana Yeriya, a dedicated ASHA worker who became a bridge between the system and the community.
When we began implementing the UTTHAAN project, we quickly realized that while government schemes existed, access remained a challenge. Many Safai Mitra families were unaware of their entitlements. Some lacked documentation. Others felt the process was too complicated to even attempt. The gap was not in policy — it was in reach.
That is where Vandana stepped in- She did not approach this as just another assignment. She approached it as a responsibility toward the community she serves every day. Going door-to-door in her area, she identified vulnerable Safai Mitra families who were excluded from social protection schemes. She listened to their concerns, understood their challenges, and patiently explained how these schemes could secure their future. She simplified complex processes — explaining health insurance benefits, pension schemes, and other welfare entitlements in language that families could easily understand. More importantly, she did not stop at awareness. She ensured action.
Vandana helped families gather necessary documents, supported them in filling out forms, and mobilized them to attend health and linkage camps organized under the project. During camps, she played an active facilitation role — encouraging registrations, coordinating with officials, and ensuring eligible beneficiaries were successfully linked. Through these efforts, multiple successful scheme linkages were facilitated. Families who once believed that “government benefits are not meant for people like us” began to feel included in the system. One Safai Mitra’s spouse shared during a camp: “For the first time, we feel someone is working for us.” That moment captured the true spirit of UTTHAAN. Vandana’s contribution has not only benefited families materially but has also strengthened trust within the community. Her credibility and recognition have grown significantly. Today, Safai Mitras see her not just as an ASHA worker, but as an advocate for their rights and dignity.
For FINISH Society, this story reinforces a critical lesson: sustainable impact happens when local leaders are empowered. Schemes and policies become meaningful only when frontline workers like Vandana ensure they reach the last mile. Her journey reflects the larger vision of UTTHAAN — a movement toward dignity, inclusion, and social security for waste workers who tirelessly keep our cities clean, yet often remain invisible within formal systems.
This is not just Vandana’s story. It is a story of restored trust. Of access replacing exclusion. Of dignity replacing neglect.
And above all, it is a reminder that real change happens when someone stands up and says: “You are not alone. We are with you.”
