UP504_Podcast_Pranjali

Health & Wellbeing in the City

Environmental (In)justice: Pirana Dumpsite Ahmedabad, India

This Podcast is a part of UP 504 - Urban History and Theory Course in Urban Planning Program, at UIUC. The topic for today’s Podcast is Solid waste Dumpsite – A site for Environmental (In)justice in cities, The podcast discourses around the communities in the Garbage near Pirana Dumpsite in my hometown city of Ahmedabad, India. 

In today’s urban era, Solid waste management is one of the compelling concerns for global south. Rapid urbanization, Industrialization, modern lifestyle and consumerism are the integrant for enormous amount of waste generation. With growing population and ever-increasing urban migration, the cities are struggling to provide decent livelihood and safe living. Therefore, downtrodden are forced to live near landfills with poor conditions. Ahmedabad is the epitome of such scenario with more than 300 families living in and around Pirana landfill site. Majority of these communities are rag pickers, sanitation workers and labourers who hardly make 3$/day. Pirana is not just their home, although it is sole earning source for these communities.  They rely on the garbage dumps through picking garbage by hand and finding items to sell or keep. Due to unhealthy and hazardous living conditions, they are suffering with vulnerable physical as well as mental health issues. Additionally, due to frequent burning of garbage, Pirana produces toxic and poisonous gas pollutant which affect the health of all city dwellers. 

The sanitation workers and rag pickers of Pirana are belong to Harijan and lower caste. Being on the intersection of caste, poverty and misfortune these neglected communities are spatially segregated and socially discriminated. 

The scenario of Ahmedabad resemblance to many other cities in Asia, Africa and South America. The solutions of such issues are beyond managing solid waste. The neglected communities of dumpsites need recognition, upliftment and opportunities. Many times a complex nexus between the waste pickers, the private players associated with waste, and authorities can be used for effective and abiding change for the purpose of earning a livelihood through recycling. The injustice in part of segregated communities handling our waste can be answered through providing better livelihood, education, healthcare and basic amenities.

Special thanks to Renu Pokharana for sharing her thoughts and insights about the subject.

References