CHILD RAG PICKERS OF DELHI
To understand the exploitation of the street urchins in Delhi a study found that one in five were rag pickers.
Not only do the children work for long hours – a minimum of 12 hours each day – for very low wages but they are vulnerable to exploitation, child abuse and traffickers.
The children also find themselves attacked by adult rag pickers who see the children as threatening their livelihood.
Girls and the younger children must avoid the attentions of the older children or they will have their pickings taken from them. The children are also at risk of catching diseases from the toxic rubbish.
Many of the children who roam the dumps have run away from home to live on the streets. Others are from families who live by the side of the dumps.