When we talk about recycling, we automatically associate it with greenery and animals and sustainability and what not. We never spare a thought about the people who are the actual feet on the ground and have made it their livelihood.

Through this project of mine, I would take you on a journey to the dark side of human garbage scavenging. I got intrigued by this topic on a visit to Connaught Place, seeing these people in tattered clothes, often sleeping at odd hours and in odd positions. This spiked my curiosity and helped made my mind to pursue it further.

Upon investigation, I found out the reason for their abnormal affinity to sleep (unconscious). Most of these rag pickers are in some way or other connected to drugs. Some have addiction and some might sell to make a living. The way they finance their addiction is by selling their day’s picking and buying narcotics at the end of the day and staying unconscious all night and even in the day.

These addicts live a life of servitude to drugs with their lives revolving around drugs and syringes and rags. So strong is their addiction that on the days they are unable to make any money, they don’t hesitate from robbing anybody and in worst case scenario hurting somebody else. There have been cases in which innocent people have been hurt by these addicts. And the worst part is that their women and kids are also falling prey to this menace which effectively ends any chance of recovery for these people.

Through this photo-log, I would like to attract everybody’s attention towards something which we all have seen but are too busy to even acknowledge its existence. In the hall ways of Connaught Place and definitely in other parts of the country, everybody sees them yet they remain invisible.