{
  "id": 9724828,
  "title": "South Delhi’s Defence Colony tries a new waste model. Its workers say they’re losing out",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/south-delhis-defence-colony-tries-a-new-waste-model-its-workers-say",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-25T07:22:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/south-delhis-defence-colony-waste-model-10893435/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Defence Colony, South Delhi, a new waste management model is being trialed by the Residents' Welfare Association (RWA) in collaboration with the Shrishti Environment and Livelihood Foundation (SELF), an NGO from Indore. The workers are divided over the new arrangement which includes a salary-based system and a requirement to collect user fees from residents. The workers, who have been earning around Rs 200 per house, claim that the MoU signed with SELF forces them to work on a salary basis and imposes additional responsibilities. They are also concerned about the unfeasibility of collecting fees from multiple households, especially in ground and first-floor apartments. The workers who have not signed the MoU, such as Raju, face difficulties in meeting the targets set by the new arrangement. Shammi Talwar, an RWA member, stated that the NGO was given the A Block as a pilot and the benefits included minimum wages, dry waste for sale, and potential future benefits like medical assistance. However, Bhavreen Kandhari, an environmental activist, argues that the workers should be formally recognized under the government's welfare framework for waste workers, as per the Solid Waste Management rules. The RWA denied any attempts to force workers to sign the MoU.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Defence Colony in South Delhi trials new waste management model.",
    "Workers earn Rs 200 per house, now on salary basis under MoU.",
    "Concerns about collecting user fees from multiple households."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "South Delhi rape: Men led teen into bushes, assaulted her at knifepoint, says FIR",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/south-delhi-rape-men-led-teen-into-bushes-assaulted-her-at-knifepoint",
        "published": "2026-09-25T08:45:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}