Disposable

Entry 13

Synopsis: The paradox of modern living! Processes of Urban development, Economic expansion and consumption are all expressions of a varied notion and forms of creativity. All f these processes use ingenious ways to create and necessitate creation of newer commodities and strategies that inevitably lead to enormous waste.

Never before has the world been privy to assiduously cunning ways in which the forces of the market has been governing and manipulating patterns of consumption and waste generation the world over. Limited life cycle of personal electronic goods, rapid (& often repetitive) changes in fashion, almost all goods and services being produced today are either designed to be disposed quickly or regularly. This concept of planned Consumer Obsolescence drives the market.

Delhi, the capital of the India is now counted as one of the most important Capitals of the world. For the people from the smaller cities and towns, the capital holds the promise of livelihood and stable future. The small is true of other metros of the Nation. According to UN Estimates, India will have more than 40 percent o fits population, i.e. over 400 million people, living in cities in next thirty years (UN, 1995).

Consumption is directly proportionate to waste generation. With a rise in per capita income rises, more & more income is spent on goods and services; the growth in consumption patterns is most visible in lower income groups.

India will probably see a rise in waste generation from less than 40,000 metric tones per year to over 125,000 metric tones by year 2030? (Shrishti, 200) and interestingly, over a million people will find livelihood opportunities in Creative means of Collections and Recycling of his waste. These creative ways are extremely well organized and effective but sadly unrecognized systems. The governance and authorities of our cities and towns does not realize or validate the inherent efficiency of these parallel systems of Collection, Recycling and Processing of such waste.

The real paradox lies in the fact that those un-named, faceless and banished people help our cities and our choking planet through their ingenious systems and channels of Waste Recycling. And we, who benefit from their need and actions, repay them with our apathy, ignorance and unjust stereotyping. Rag picking communities in Delhi alone help the MDC save Millions of Dollars.

For us these people will always be “Rag pickers” their occupations replacing their names, identities and their noble deeds. To the “authorities” they will always be second citizens.

Disposable is an attempt to identify and acknowledge the journey waste and the people who spend their lives in our waste. Disposable traces the many ways in which our madness of consumption and disposal has added to piles of trash in overflowing Landfills, and the unsung heroes who process our waste and recycle it relentlessly, everyday. The film is an attempt to put a name, a face and an identity to thousands of people who are the true Eco- Warriors whilst the rest of us only Research and Learn.

Disposable is a story of our lifestyles and goods that are inevitably disposable, and the disposable people who are indeed inseparable and indispensable to our Waste Management Systems. The Film raises pertinent questions of the denial of Right to Survival and denial of Dignity that thousands of Rag Pickers are subjected to the denial of and in access to means of Education, Health and Welfare that is now deep seated to rag picking communities

Disposable is our quest to learn where our Consumption Mania leads, what becomes of the things we throw away and the men, women, children, whose lives are spent amidst this waste. It is a short glimpse into the lives of few such people and how they help and make sense of what we ravage. It helps us recognize our own complicity in making People and our Planet ”Disposable”.