Although India is progressing economically, some portions of the population are not benefiting from the progress. People suffering from poverty have been subjected to environmental injustice. Environmental justice is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of their race, colour, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies (Kibert, 2006).
India has experienced rapid industrialization in the last few decades. This has resulted in increased urbanization, a rise in the standard of living, an increase in the level of consumption, and an increase in per capita waste generation (Ray, 2004). Modern urban lifestyles create a serious problem of waste because of the ever increasing quantity of waste (Gupta, 2004). Appropriate waste management systems in India are slower to be implemented because of the lack of appropriate technologies, absence of professional training, and lack of funds (Ray, 2005).
Rag pickers and landfill workers in India are victims of environmental injustice. They are exposed to the toxic chemicals in open waste sites. An open landfill site is defined as one in which solid waste is disposed in an environmentally unsafe manner, that is susceptible to open burning, and that is exposed to elementary disease vectors and scavengers (Rogers, 2005). Most of the rag pickers and landfill workers suffer due to extreme poverty and illiteracy and are willing to do this unhygienic work to earn extra income.
The majority of rag pickers and landfill workers are young children and women who live in urban slums. Most of them are originally from rural areas and have found it necessary economically to move to urban areas to seek employment. They basically earn a living by selling collected materials. They also require their children to contribute financially by picking and collecting garbage from landfill sites.
These workers suffer from respiratory and general health impairments due to toxic exposures and contaminations in the open landfill sites in major cities. The workers are exposed on a daily basis to pathogenic bio-aerosol, like fungi and protozoa, and chemical contaminants, such as methyl mercury, that causes disease and chronic illness.
Many Indian people fail to acknowledge the problems these workers face daily in their lives. Rag pickers and landfill workers are members of the lowest caste in the caste system. They are not considered respectable members of society. Many people do not recognize their value to the economy.
Thus, India needs to recognize that there is a need for immediate action. Introducing appropriate preventive measures to safeguard the health and well being of landfill workers and rag pickers is essential. Raising more awareness of this serious environmental health issue would motivate and drive authorities to adopt safer management techniques. This would benefit public health as well as increase the quality of the environment. These workers do not deserve to be victims of environmental injustice, especially in the 21st century.
References:
Gupta, DK, et al. (2004). Revegetating fly ash landfills with Prospia juliflora l: Impact of
different amendments and rhizobium inoculation. Environmental International 30 (3),
293-300.
Kibert, N.C. (2001). Green justice: A holistic approach to environmental injustice.
Retrieved April 29, 2009 from the World Wide Web:
www.law.fsu.edu/journals/landuse/vol117_1/kibert.pdf.
Ray, M.R. (2004). Respiratory and general health impairments of rag pickers in India: A
study in Delhi. International Archives of Occupational Health and Environmental
Health, 77 595-598.
Ray, M.R, et al. (2005). Respiratory and general health impairments of workers
employed in a municipal solid waste disposal at an open landfill site in Delhi.
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 208 255-262.
Rogers, H. (2005). Gone Tomorrow: A Hidden Life of Garbage. New York, London:
The New Press.
By. Halima Tahirkheli
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