Living on the Margins

While the climate crisis spells doom for everyone, its impact does not hit everyone equally

- Apeksha Priyadarshini

THE footpaths on either side of the road underneath the Jamia Millia Islamia Metro Station in New we there with their families. Rukhsana, 35, is one of them, living on the footpath with her husband and children. They move between Delhi and Lucknow, staying at the Lucknow railway platform on some days. Rukhsana cannot remember how long they have been living like this. They don't have any means of livelihood and mostly depend on asking for alms to fill their stomachs. None of them possesses any documents. When asked why this was the case, Rukhsana says, "Banwana itna mehenga hai, kaun banwayega?" (It is so expensive to get them made. Who will make it for us?)