Lets not look the other way

This family of three looks like hundreds of people we choose not to look at. Saw them in the Sec 14 Sabzi Mandi today. Cleaning up and picking all that could be salvaged. The lady had rummaged through all the discarded veggies in the ‘Khatta’ (collection point of all garbage) and had herself a tidy little bag of supplies to feed her small family. The bigger bags their cart tows are the cardboard and wooden crates discarded by the shopkeepers which may get them a fair price to get by. And if have begun to tutter and feel sorry for them, please stop right here
and now.
The tuttering really must be directed towards ourselves. For always turning the other way, for always shifting the blame of India’s numerous problems on somebody else. For always living entitled lives which own no responsibilities and yet have the finger pointing somewhere outwards. Don’t take this personally – I almost looked away today (maybe one learns to do this when one sees the same thing too often and stops questioning or attempting to fix it).
What can you do today? Firstly, maybe say a silent ‘thank you’ to hundreds of these silent workers who keep our cities clean. They don’t need your pity, but maybe need your support. Make sure you compost at home. Gift your dry waste to the waste pickers (their next meal depends on it) and pick up one problem around you and commit to find a solution to it. It’s gifting season after all…

First posted on 20 October 2016
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ncrwastematters/posts/993587347435103/