God Save Rag Pickers
Rag Pickers- near but far
The Article that briefly tries to look at the life of rag pickers and the problem they face because of their visibility.
Often I have seen this unfortunate scene, and felt that dogs are also somewhat like men in terms of their thinking, wagging their tails before the so called rich and sophisticated people and shouting and shooing away the dirty poor creature wrapped in torn pieces of clothes and sometimes biting them also.
I have seen rag picker kids roaming barefoot with their tiny feet, wearing dirty torn pieces of clothes/ rags on their body and shining under the full sun putting their hand in garbage and filth.Do not know and often wonder what treasure they find in that garbage pile, must be “something”! However, do they only get something out of it, I am sure the cost of getting “something” is much heavier.
Bharat (India) has changed a lot in last few decades in terms of what not, but what has not changed at all in the country is – Dogs relentless barking at rag pickers.
Hunger teaches everything – “Poor” of India feels hungry for food and “Rich” feels hungry for money.
Everyone knows that Hunger sometimes paves way for cheating, theft and fraud, even dogs know this and not only dogs, people who live a far worse life then dog.The game of life start, some steal food, some steal money for food, some steal money for more money and the vicious circle continues.
“SAVE THE GIRL CHILD” – Only god save the rag picker Girl Child, from not only fierce dogs but also far fiercer dog like man.May be I made a mistake, Dogs are not that dangerous, but some man could be.
I admire lot of social workers who have engaged in the upliftment of rag picker community though I have my reservations on some, who promote this as CSR for corporates.Don’t know how serious the CSR gets in this regard.
I just recall that sunny morning when I saw that little girl child, bearing the burden of a dirty brown rag on her shoulder with lot of garbage inside and carrying a plate of rice-beans in one hand- slurping it.Unaware and carefree, enjoying her breakfast.