Home / Environment / Delhi's Toxic Air Chokes Livelihoods
Delhi's Toxic Air Chokes Livelihoods
18 Nov
Summary
- Bike taxi driver's income drastically reduced due to illness.
- Outdoor workers suffer burning eyes, coughing, and headaches daily.
- Workers lack essential protective gear like masks, facing health risks.
Outdoor workers in Delhi are facing severe health consequences due to the city's persistent air pollution crisis. A bike taxi driver, previously earning ₹50,000 monthly, now struggles with a chronic respiratory illness, significantly reducing his work hours and income. His earnings are now primarily allocated to medicine and his child's education.
Similar struggles are reported by sanitation workers, road sweepers, and security guards who spend long hours exposed to toxic air. They frequently experience burning eyes, persistent coughing, and headaches. Despite regulations mandating personal protective equipment, many workers, like a road sweeper in Hauz Khas, lack adequate masks, citing loss and difficulty in obtaining replacements from contractors.
Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10 can lead to severe respiratory problems, including asthma attacks and reduced lung capacity. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi deploys resources like anti-smog guns and water sprinklers, but the daily reality for these "invisible workers" remains a precarious fight for health and survival.
