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Delhi Smog: Street Vendors Suffer as Pollution Chokes Business
15 Nov
Summary
- Street workers endure health issues like burning eyes and sore throats.
- Advisories to stay indoors shift errands to delivery workers, increasing their workload.
- Smog reduces footfall, severely impacting street vendors and photographers.
As Delhi grapples with severe air pollution, individuals who work outdoors face significant challenges to their health and livelihoods. Delivery workers are experiencing increased demand as residents opt for home deliveries, but this comes at the cost of enduring hazardous air conditions, described as grit in the eyes. Vegetable vendors report reduced sales as fewer people venture out, preferring online orders.
Street photographers and flower vendors are also witnessing a sharp decline in business due to decreased footfall. The smog not only affects their income but also poses health risks, including burning eyes, sore throats, and breathlessness. Doctors warn that prolonged exposure to severe air quality is comparable to smoking several cigarettes daily, increasing the risk of various chronic illnesses.
Measures like GRAP Stage 3, including construction bans and hybrid classes, do not offer direct support for outdoor workers. The pollution directly impacts businesses, with flowers getting ruined by dust and soot, and ice-cream vendors seeing reduced sales as visibility drops. The iconic India Gate has become less visible, deterring tourists and affecting those who earn a living around the monument.
