As air pollution levels surge in Delhi and other metros in India, outdoor workers bear the brunt of its harsh effects. Among these workers, waste pickers, safai karamcharis (sweepers contracted by municipal bodies), and security guards are most frequently exposed to pollutants such as dust, waste, and toxic gases throughout their work hours. Apart from the demands of their professions, the combination of intergenerational poverty and limited access to a healthy lifestyle and healthcare renders this demographic especially susceptible to the detrimental consequences of air pollution. The absence of effective countermeasures further exacerbates this situation.

To determine the extent of the impact of air pollution on these occupations, Chintan conducted a survey of 400 participants—constituting safai karamcharis, waste pickers, and security guards—across 15 sites in Delhi. The findings of this survey have been published in a report titled Unfair Quality: The Impact of Air Pollution on Three Occupations. The report uncovers that 97 percent safai karamcharis, 95 percent waste pickers, and 82 percent security guards are prone to exposure to air pollution during work.

Highlighted below are some of the solutions put forth by the report to combat this.

  1.  Workers need accessible PPEs
  2. Workers should have access to healthcare
  3. Organisations must promote healthy practices
  4. Outside exposure needs to be limited
  5. Systemic-level shifts are necessary

Read the full article about poor air quality by Bharati Chaturvedi And Shruti Sinha at India Development Review.