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Safety gear for Aizawl scavengers

By Zodinsanga

AIZAWL, March 11 - The more than 100 scavengers who are earning their livelihood by picking recyclables from the city�s garbage dump amidst thick smoke from burning trash have been given safety gear to reduce the risk of breathing in toxic air.

The Aizawl Municipal Corporation today provided safety gears � hand gloves and mask � and IDs to the rag- pickers who earn a living from the garbage at Tuirial dumping ground.

AMC officials said there are more than 100 people, mainly from Tuirial Airfield area, who are collecting recyclables from the city�s waste.

Aizawl deputy mayor Lalringliana said the AMC is working on a systematic eco-friendly waste management system for Aizawl city. �Even though waste picking is not advisable, there are families who are dependant on it. The best we can do as of now is to provide them with safety gears so that we can reduce their health risks,� he said.

Wind continuously blows thick cloud of smoke from the burning trash. Through this toxic haze, waste pickers climb the steep mountain of garbage to collect recyclables. They sometimes find money or even gold necklaces in the garbage. But mostly they collect bottles, cans, metal and paper. They resell these to collectors from the city, and earn Rs 150 to Rs 500 a day.

Residents nearby the garbage dump have complained of the continuous smoke coming from the burning garbage.

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