B10 Garbage Handlers

I have been shaken from the reverie of my cocooned existence. The garbage crisis that afflicted my city Kochi, in the early weeks of june had its impact on me. I have become more sensitive. I burn all the office waste paper and other items in my back yard twice a week. I have instructed all at home to keep kitchen waste separate. 

But more importantly i have started noticing the garbage handlers. Some of them come with the truck to pick up the pile that is accumulated in the dump near my house, others I see dragging handcarts loaded with waste (all in different stages of putridity) in different parts of the city. 

A couple of days back I noticed a few of them physically wading through the garbage, segregating the waste into bio and non bio degradable , a task which each house hold, or office is supposed to do but which I think they rarely do .

What would we do without these souls? Are any of us bothered about what they earn, what is happening to their children, what are their aspirations? I am not sermonizing. Far from it, I have just been woken up. But there is still inertia to overcome to get into action .Will I start doing something about it. What will I do? What can I do? Where can I help? Or will I slip back to my own existential concerns. I don’t know time will tell ….