[Reader-list] In the Fringes of Urban Economy

[Kabir Khan]

*In the Fringes of Urban Economy
<http://wastenarratives.com/2015/10/03/in-the-fringes-of-urban-economy/>*


*Notes from Nayandahalli*


*Pinky Chandran*


*“Nayandahalli, 25 years back was jungle. There was no electricity, water,
or roads. On a vacant plot, the landlord gave us permission, and we put up
a hut, as  my husband found a job as a watchman. Originally from Mulbagal,
Kolar, after marriage I moved to Mandya. Following a family dispute, my
husband and I moved to Bangalore. Living here, my thoughts were always on
my children’s future, so I worked as an incense stick maker, but the money
was hardly anything. And then tragedy stuck… somebody told us, “Give me
your child and I will educate her”, but my heart was not at it. I went back
to Mandya. My husband and one of our children came back to Bangalore and
our kid got lost. Though we found her, I began questioning myself, for how
long should I be dependent, and why should I give my child away to someone
else. That was when I decided that I had to look for work and I joined the
godown and started my career as a waste-sorter. If I worked, I would get
money, if I did not I would not get any.  In my work, from glass pieces, to
needles everything pricks. I often get hurt.  There is no social security,
if we fall sick. As long as you’re healthy, you have work.  Worked there
for 20 years, and then we decided that we need to move up the ladder and
start a godown. But now we have been asked to move out, a notice has been
issued by the government. And that is the story of my life…”-  Zarina*

Shrinking city space pushes most informal economy outside the margins
making their invisibility more prominent. Isolated, ignored,
taken-for-granted these places continue to be at the mercy of landlords,
holding hardworking informal micro- entrepreneurs dealing in waste to
ransom. Waste, as they say is a social and cultural construct, and this is
the bane of our society determining our attitudes around waste, and the
people working with and in waste.  It is no wonder then, that the recycling
hub of Bangalore- Nayandahalli was located at the outskirts of the city in
the early 1970s, as evidenced by Zarina’s story. Given, the changing face
of the area with the metro construction, real estate prices have picked up
and the recyclers have been given notice to move out. You can read the full
and listen to the full story here....
<http://wastenarratives.com/2015/10/03/in-the-fringes-of-urban-economy/>

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Regards

कबीर/کبیر

Phone:00-91-96-63-427-315
Email: kabir.postbox at gmail.com
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