For over a decade, ATSWA Trust has been at the forefront of empowering rag picker communities across Tamil Nadu—from the vast dump yards of Kodungaiyur in Chennai to underserved pockets in Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Ranipet, Villupuram and Chengalpattu. Our work is grounded in deep, consistent engagement—beginning at the grassroots with trust-building and crisis response, and evolving into a sustained mission for dignity, health, inclusion, and sustainable livelihood alternatives.
We conduct inclusive, community-led outreach sessions on:
Our sessions reach women, youth, children, and elderly waste workers, and are often facilitated by trained leaders from within the community. We don’t just inform—we empower.
Rag pickers risk their lives daily with no basic protection. To address this, ATSWA has distributed:
These efforts are often the first and only source of aid during crisis periods, reinforcing community trust and safety.
Our approach is community-centered and field-driven. We:
From Kodungaiyur to Ennore, from peri-urban slums to rural waste hubs, our teams are always present, always listening, always acting.
Rag pickers are the invisible backbone of urban waste management, but they remain among the most excluded and exploited groups in India. Our work is not charity—it is justice, inclusion, and empowerment. We don’t see rag pickers as beneficiaries. We see them as partners in progress— resilient, capable, and deserving of dignity, recognition, and opportunity.
ATSWA Trust is actively seeking grants and strategic partnerships to:
We are ready to take our work to the next level, with your support. Let’s build a future where every waste worker is seen, safe, and supported.
Reach out to explore partnership or funding opportunities. Join us in transforming invisible lives into powerful voices.