Scavengers -- better known as ‘Kawadi walas' -- are known for their vexatious yells. They earn their living selling scrap metal, glass bottles or paper. Sanjay Jaiswal, 40, is one such scavenger. Originally from Motihari - India, Jaiswal calls Kathmandu his home. He’s been sharing space with the residents of the city since his childhood. He recalls starting work as a scrap collector from just 13. Jaiswal says, “When you are poor, and struggling is your only option in life, even the toughest of jobs appears easy.”
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Currently, Jaiswal switches between scavenging, delivering vegetables, and selling puffed rice and fritters at Naxal. He says, “I have a large family with four daughters and two sons. With my savings, I have bought some land in India, where my parents still live, but I don’t have anything planned for the future. All I wish for is to be able to fulfill my family’s needs.”
