Pune: A Heartwarming Tale of Honesty: Waste Picker Finds a Bag with 10 Lakh and Returns It

Pune: For Anju Mane, a waste picker working in Sadashiv Peth for over 20 years, the morning of November 20 started like any other. She was going door-to-door collecting waste. But on her way to the feeder point, she noticed a bag lying by the roadside. Assuming it contained medicines or someone’s belongings, she simply kept it aside safely.

When she finally opened it, she was stunned – Inside were medicines and ₹10 lakh in cash.

Knowing her community well, she began asking around. Soon, she noticed a resident looking extremely anxious, searching frantically for something. Anju approached him, offered water, calmed him down, and confirmed the bag belonged to him.

She returned the entire bag every rupee untouched.

The grateful citizen and the neighbourhood honoured Anju with a saree and a small cash reward.

Anju once again proved that – Honesty doesn’t depend on wealth; it comes from values.
The bond between waste pickers and citizens in Pune’s “Swachh” model has strengthened over 20 years because of such trust and humanity.