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Lost In Time
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Recycling is big in India, though not in a formal organized way. The waste collected by ragpickers is sold to certain people, who in turn convert it, re-sell it, etc.

Last Thursday, the ragpicker Santosh stopped by my home to collect waste. I had told him that if he came once every week, I would give him all the waste collected in my house; which includes cardboard boxes, plastic covers, plastic wrappers, foil,empty bottles, milk packets, cartons etc. This was the first time I noticed a dog hanging around him. I asked him if it was his, and he said yes. From then on I noticed that every ragpicker combing the streets and garbage bins has a dog faithfully following them. Then something jolted my memory. When we were little, my sister came running home while playing in the next street panicking. She was worried about a man letting loose his dog on this ragpicker. And this ragpicker was a little boy around my sister's age then .. maybe nine, probably the same age as Santosh is now. A couple of days ago, a friend mentioned that their area was a posh area of that city and so ragpickers weren't allowed there because they were dangerous. And that people don't like them.

What outrages me is that we are treating the people who collect the trash we create like trash itself. The ragpickers are keeping dogs to protect themselves from people who might chase them away. Their only crime is that they are assumed dangerous, and that they are unkempt and dirty and make an area look "bad". I had come across certain areas like those in a city I lived in a couple of years ago. Imagine having to sort in festering garbage bins with bare hands, always vulnerable to all kinds of diseases. Its a job that none of us would be willing to do, and to illtreat someone who is clearing our mess is terrible cruelty. They're not sub-human. If there weren't any of them to clear our waste, I think all of us in India would have died being choked in our own dirt.

Its a sad state that one human being has to be afraid of another human being. The first time Santosh came to our home with his brother, he was very hungry and asked for food. Their mother was waiting for them at a far distance because she thought her being their would jeopardise their chances of getting food. They're so young. The sack Santosh carries to collect waste is as big as him. He could hide inside it comfortably. Santosh literally finances his older brother Ganesh's education. Ganesh goes to school. They're all so afraid of everyone. Like some fringe community who we all need, but don't want to look at or care for. We want our work done, but want them to be invisible, without rights, without food.
~~~

Last month I was in Bellary district and had a chance to stay at a guest house in a very beautiful township. Everything was organized, the roads were wide and there were trees everywhere, the houses were beautiful, and it was hard to imagine that this was a part of India. But I don't think I would ever want to live in some place like that. I would prefer the chaos of a 'normal' city anyday. I don't want to live anywhere or create an atmosphere where someone would be afraid of approaching me because of where I live. Maybe one day when everyone has that kind of equality, I wouldn't mind.



January 6, 2009 | 4:17 AM Comments  7 comments

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ojeremen Stephen Ojeremen
January 6, 2009 | 2:13 PM
One World
Very interesting Siddiqua,wow!Thanks for sharing....But Ojeremen is wondering what could be done to creat a better life for the above mentioned....
sidsayed siddiqua
January 6, 2009 | 10:22 PM

Thanks for your comment Ojeremen. I'm not sure how a better life can be created, but I created a project on TIG to help.
ojeremen Stephen Ojeremen
January 7, 2009 | 3:32 AM
One World
You are perfectly right Siddiqua,and thanks for taking your time to do so.....Cheers,
natesh naanu
January 8, 2009 | 12:41 AM

"to illtreat someone who is clearing our mess is terrible cruelty"
Where did untouchability come from? What profession these communities who were branded as outcasts into?

We always illtreated the ones who cleaned the mess we created. If not for those, our life would have been a real mess.
danji Danji
January 19, 2009 | 12:50 PM
Being inclusive...
I start from the principal that we all are here to participate in something greater than ourselves. For that reason I believe in being inclusive and not discriminating. When you look into the eyes of all the Santosh's of this world, you can see that there isn't any difference between him and me. The importance of sharing a smile, a hand and love with others is everybody's responsability. Let us all continue to work toward the same goal of making this world a better place for ALL. Namaste Siddiqua.
Hope-fne Lisa Robinson
January 19, 2009 | 5:17 PM
Forgotten Heros
We have a lot of these "ragpickers" in the KSA too. But they are every where. I wish they would come to the houses but they just go to the trash bins. In the Kingdom people often give them food and cloting and even money. These people are working very hard and they are saving our environment as a means to earn a living. When I first saw them I felt sorry for them and quite horrified of the site, but when I realized how important they are to us I feel so greatful for them. We should all be just with them and thak the god for the things we have, and the means we have been given.
ojeremen Stephen Ojeremen
January 19, 2009 | 5:49 PM

You are right!
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