Community Mobilizer

Primary Function: To mobilize, organize, and formalize the informal sector waste pickers into the Saahas's promoted cooperative structure of PRIDE COOP, ensuring their social inclusion, capacity building, and improved livelihoods through sustainable waste management practices.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Community Mobilizer’s duties are centered on the unique needs of the waste-picker community and the cooperative's waste management mandate.

1. Mobilization and Formalization of Waste Pickers

• Identification and Mapping: Systematically identify, survey, and map out informal waste pickers, scrap dealers, and aggregation points within the assigned zones of Guwahati.
• Recruitment and Enrolment: Conduct targeted outreach meetings (e.g., in slums, waste aggregation sites) to educate waste pickers on the benefits of joining PRIDE COOP (e.g., better prices, social security, formal recognition) handhold by the Saahas.
• Cooperative Membership: Facilitate the legal enrolment process for new members, ensuring all necessary documentation is completed for formal inclusion into the cooperative.
• Connecting the bulk waste generators: Along with the unorganised sector, also to enrol the Bulk waste generators like Hotels, restaurants, industries, corporates, institutions etc.

2. Capacity Building and Training

• Technical Training: Organize and conduct practical training sessions on proper waste segregation (primary, secondary, and tertiary), safe handling of recyclable materials, and occupational health and safety protocols (PPE usage).
• Cooperative Principles: Educate members on the structure, functioning, democratic principles, financial literacy, and bylaws of the cooperative.
• Livelihood Enhancement: Train members on efficient collection routes, quality assurance, and value addition techniques for specific high-value recyclables (e.g., plastics, paper, metals).

3. Cooperative Operations and Linkages

• Process Compliance: Ensure waste picker members adhere to the cooperative's standard operating procedures for material collection, aggregation, and delivery to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
• Market Linkages: Serve as a liaison between the cooperative management and the members to ensure fair and transparent pricing for collected materials, protecting them from exploitation by middlemen.
• Social Welfare Linkages: Facilitate the enrolment of waste pickers in government social security schemes, health insurance, and other welfare programs (e.g., Aadhaar, E-Shram, ABHA health cards).

4. Community Relations and Conflict Resolution

• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain positive relationships with local Ward Councillors, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) staff, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and other CBOs to ensure the cooperative's legitimacy and access.
• Advocacy: Advocate on behalf of the cooperative and its members for better working conditions, recognition, and integration into the city's formal solid waste management system.
• Grievance Redressal: Act as the first point of contact for resolving internal conflicts among members or external issues with the public, municipal authorities, or police.
• Basic Qualifications

Education

Minimum of a Graduate from a recognized University.

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Rural Development, Sociology, or Environmental Science.

Experience

At least 2 years of field experience in community mobilization, social development, or working with marginalized communities, particularly the informal sector/waste pickers.

Experience with a cooperative society, NGO, or project specifically focused on solid waste management (SWM) or livelihoods in Guwahati.

Language

Fluency in Assamese, Hindi, and English (spoken and written).

Working knowledge of English for reporting/documentation.

Skills

Ground-Level Networking: Proven ability to gain trust and rapport with the waste-picker community.

Knowledge of basic accounting/bookkeeping for SHGs or cooperative records.

Communication & Training: Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills to conduct training.

Familiarity with local government structure (GMC) and SWM rules/policies.

Documentation

Basic computer literacy (MS Word, Excel) for activity tracking and report generation.

Personal Traits

High level of Empathy and Patience, and a strong commitment to the dignity and rights of marginalized workers.

Others

Willingness to conduct extensive fieldwork and travel within the assigned areas of Guwahati daily.

Having own Bikes is preferable.

Job Type: Contractual / Temporary
Contract length: 6 months

Pay: ₹10,000.00 - ₹15,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person