garbage collectors in India
difficult and dangerous job for waste pickers in India.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
The putrid smell of burning garbage wafts for miles from the landfill on the outskirts of Jammu in a potentially toxic miasma fed by the plastics, industrial, medical, and other waste generated by a city of some 740,000 people. Despite the hazardous conditions, a handful of waste pickers persist in sorting through the rubbish, seeking anything they can sell to earn at best the equivalent of $4 a day.
Challenges Faced by Waste Pickers
65-year-old Usmaan Shekh, one of the waste pickers at the Jammu landfill, expressed the dire circumstances they face, stating, “If we don’t do this, we don’t get any food to eat.” The extreme heat, with temperatures regularly topping 43 degrees Celsius, has made their already hazardous job even more dangerous. Tragically, at least one person who died in northern India’s recent heatwave was identified as a garbage picker.
The landfills themselves seethe internally as garbage decomposes, emitting gases like methane and carbon dioxide that are harmful to breathe. The rising heat of summer intensifies these processes, leading to increased health risks for waste pickers.
Impact of Climate Change on Waste Pickers
India generates over 62 million tons of waste annually, with some landfills resembling mountains of garbage. Despite laws mandating waste segregation to protect against hazardous materials, enforcement has been lacking, adding to the risks faced by waste pickers.
Extreme heat has exacerbated the challenges for waste pickers, who are already marginalized and exposed to appalling work conditions. Bharati Chaturvedi, founder of the Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group, highlighted the additional risks posed by this year’s heatwave.
Ensuring the Safety of Waste Pickers
Abhiyant Tiwari, from the Natural Resources Defense Council’s India program, emphasized the importance of providing waste pickers with access to water, shade, and medical care to mitigate the risks of working in high heat. Implementing heat action plans across the country is crucial to safeguarding the health and well-being of waste pickers.
Geeta Devi, a 55-year-old garbage picker in New Delhi, shared the challenges she faces in the heat but emphasized the necessity of her job to provide for her family. As a society, there is a responsibility to protect and support waste pickers in these challenging conditions.
As temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, the plight of waste pickers in India underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to ensure their safety and well-being.
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garbage pickers in India
dangerous job for India’s garbage pickers.
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