HORRIFIED WITH the stories of workers walking thousands of kilometers to their homes, it occurred to me that the best way to document their hardship was to join them and see it for myself. I started on May 16 without a destination in mind. A friend had told me that a large number of people were on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Amroha road; so I decided to take that route. As I file this report on May 21, I am about 100 km from Bahraich, a district in eastern Uttar Pradesh, roughly 600 km from Delhi.
MAY 16: DELHI TO HAPUR
11 am: I left home in Mayur Vihar for the Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminus near Ghaziabad in the hope of finding people headed in the direction I had chosen. Close to the bus station, I saw a middleaged worker and thought of striking up a conversation: “Kya kaam karte hain (What do you do)?” I asked.
He responded in a disinterested and irritated manner. “Welder kaa kaam karte hain (I am a welder).”
Kahaan rahte hain (Where is home)?” I posed a second question.
“Farrukhabad,” he grumbled. “To achaanak se chal diye (Why did you depart suddenly)?” I said. “Arrey khaayenge kya? Na paise hain, na ration (What do I eat? I’ve no money, no food),” he snapped.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 01, 2020-Ausgabe von Down To Earth.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 01, 2020-Ausgabe von Down To Earth.
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Vision 2030
Economic growth must take into account needs of energy transition, climate mitigation, with action aligned as per India's 2030 climate goals
FIX OUR FOOD
Chemical-dependent farming, lax labelling laws, rising anti-microbial resistance must top the agenda
BATTLE THE CAR BULGE
Clean, affordable, integrated and accessible public transport the only solution
CONSERVE NOW
Disregard for biodiversity conservation over the past two decades needs immediate redressal
SCRAP THE DUMP
Disincentivise garbage dumping, invest in behavioural change
PLAN THEM COOL
As urban India turns into a heat trap, the government must focus on improving cities' liveability
THINK LONG-TERM
India needs continued emphasis on flagship programmes, aligned to long-term planning that focusses on water security and circular economy in a climate-risked era
OVERHAUL OVERDUE
Hold polluting industries accountable for public health risks, environmental hazards, climate change; provide them support for green transition
LOOK BEYOND DUST
Reinvent National Clean Air Programme to focus on fine particulate matter and trans-boundary pollution
IT'S NOW OR NEVER
Clean energy sectors need demand-driven markets and domestic industries that can cater to the entire value chain