Are we ready yet?
Not long ago there was a story in Delhi about a man killed by exposure to radioactive substance in Mayapuri, the news died however, we like always never learn. Recently three waste collector were buried in a heap of garbage near Hyderabad on June 2010. One of the body found was 15 years boy!!
Waste collectors are mostly... ignored section in our society. These are people who provide us the cleanliness we demand and they are ignored as we inhabit their work place. An interesting fact that came out from Stree Mukti Sangathan (women waste collector group) - 85 % waste collectors are women and from age group 7 - 70!! Majority of them dalits from UP and Bihar - wish Mayawati can hear this!
They sleep next to the waste they have sorted, as they need to monetize their wealth. The sell-able items are plastic, Pet bottles, paper, cardboard, glass etc, they sell it to a local scrap dealer (most often a local goon) at rate that can only fetch you two time meals!
The Mayapuri incident was merely a mistake by a local hospital, throwing away an X-ray machine that contains cobolt - 60! One died, two still struggling for their life. Educating waste collector is often an agenda that keeps roaring in our debate, who would educate the educated hospital owners! CPCP (Central Pollution Control Board) has clear guidelines on medical waste treatment. The usage of autoclave is a mandate, still as we never learn,until a catastrophe.
