Photo Copyright: David Stewart
Here we are again this week. This time we’re sitting in a virtual yard in India across from a trash bin. Our guide for this virtual trip taken by our group, the Friday Fictioneers, is the gracious and talented author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge for each of us is to write a story with no more than 100 words. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the pciture prompt provided for the week. This week’s prompt was provided by David Stewart. Thanks, David.
To read the other stories by group members, just click on the link given, then on the little blue frog in the blue box. The link for the other stories this week is as follows:
https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/18-september-2015/
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100 Words
POOR IN INDIA by P.S. Joshi
Every day she goes to a trash bin to separate things she can resell.
She takes off her cheap flip-flops and wades in, filling the large, empty bag she brings along with recyclable plastic sheets, bags, bottles, hard plastics, cloth, etc.
Competition is other rag pickers and the starving feral dogs always searching for edible garbage.
She brings her youngest child with her to keep him safe from her drunken husband. One neighbor was arrested for selling his child.
When she gets money, she has to quickly buy food before her husband steals it for drink. He often beats her.
Harsh reality would have been a good title for this sad picture you have painted of the poor in India.
LikeLike
Thanks, Irene. It would be an excellent title. I’ve both seen them at these jobs, and read things in the newspaper. It’s a fact of life here beneath the color and show. —– Suzanne
LikeLike
We should be thankful to them otherwise the solid waste would be unmanageable.
You have done well to write about the rag pickers. I sincerely hope some NGO or international agency takes cognizance and help these people.
LikeLike
Thanks, Yarnspinnerr. We most certainly owe a lot to the rag pickers. Sadly, too many who are in a position to help just accept them as part of a way of life as though they’re invisible or machines. It’s realistically probably not going to happen that an international agency, unless they have branches here, will help as people in most countries don’t know they exist unless they’ve been to India. Then they expect the government here to help them. An NGO is more realistic. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know that some NGOs are helping them but these are mostly local and short of resources. In case a major international agency steps in …. it would hasten the work that needs to be done.
LikeLike
Dear Suzanne,
I agree with Irene. Harsh reality indeed. Well written as well as eye-opening.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Thanks, Rochelle. I’m glad you liked the piece. Actually, this is happening in cities in the U.S. these days although it sometimes isn’t as recognized a practive as in India. My kids shred important documents before they toss them out because there are the poor who check through the trash. Sometimes those checking aren’t poor. The term is “dumpster divers.” They look for things they need and/or they can resell. There are also the more organized methods. We lived at an apartment complex in the U.S. where people put furniture they didn’t want in the parking lot near the dumpsters, and other residents chose what they wanted. When we were in a house, if you sat something reusable at the curb, a truck came around to collect it before the city trucks took it away. I never knew who the truck belonged to. The Vietnam Vets used to give out bags you could put clothing in you didn’t want, and they’d come round later and collect it. —– Suzanne
LikeLike
I’m in Long Beach, CA today and I was awaken at 5 am by a garbage sorter so this was a timely story for me. No one has to go through my garbage at my suburban home. Tonight I am leaving all the recyclables out so they’re easy to find. It’s good to be reminded of someone else’s harsh reality.
Tracey
LikeLike
Thanks, Tracey. That’s very kind of you. As I commented to Rochelle just before this comment, it’s happening in the U.S. also. It’s just not as accepted and/or recognized a practice as in India It also has nothing to do with the caste system or social status. Probably not all “dumpster divers” in the U.S. are poor. Our kids both have shredders and shred important documents before putting them in the trash. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a tough life.
LikeLike
Thanks, Ali. It is a tough life. It’s also extremely unhealthy. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
Unimaginable. What a hard life.
Visit Keith’s Ramblings!
LikeLike
Thanks, Keith. It is a hard life. These people are among the poorest in the country. Of course, there are the poor in every country. My kids are in the U.S., and they own shredders so they can shred any unneeded documents that have personal banking information, etc. on them before they put them in the trash. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
A terrible reality for so many people! Beautifully and simply narrated, Suzanne!
LikeLike
Thanks, Vijaya. I’m glad you liked the way I wrote the story. It is a terrible reality. It happens in the U.S. and other countries also, but isn’t always as recognized and/or accepted a practice. People who are in a position to help need to do so. The poor are everywhere in the world. —– Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well written. Reflects poverty all over the world. Even here in Florida.
Though some may dispute it.
Randy
LikeLike
Thanks, Randy. You’re right. As I commented to Rochelle. It is happening in different ways in the U.S. also. Our kids there know it and shred all unneeded papers with important information before throwing them in the trash. The poor are everywhere. Some people prefer to ignore it. I’m glad you liked the piece. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
A timely piece Suzanne – I just got back from the ‘relais’ bin here in France, dumping a heap of clothes. There was a man hanging around there yesterday, beer-can in hand, and I wondered what I’d do if he were still there this morning. I suspected he’d want to take them from me, possibly to sell for more beer money, and I preferred them to go to refugees. But then, need is need, isn’t it. Who am I to sit in judgement? As your story beautifully depicts. Nice one.
LikeLike
Thanks, Sandra. I know what you mean. I have to depend that things go to the right people when I discard them. Sometimes my husband’s caregiver will take leftover food and give it to beggers here. In the U.S. a truck came around to collect reusable things put on the curb before the city trucks picked them up. Also, the Vietnam Vets used to give bags, for used clothing they could resell to used clothing stores, and pick them up later. There are also the “dumpster divers,” not always poor, who go through dumpsters looking for things they can use or resell. It’s a fact of life. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is plenty of everything to go around (oh, except love, of course).
Good piece.
LikeLike
Thanks, Mick. You’re right. There certainly needs to be more of the right kind of love going around. I’m so pleased you liked the piece. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Harsh reality. A grim tale. The saddest part is the hard earned money is often grabbed by alcoholic husband.
LikeLike
Thanks, Indira. I know, of course, not all the men are heavy drinkers, but you hear of it so often. I know of one organization that gives food to families to help them instead of money because of that problem with so many. — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Suzanne,
The world is out dumpster and we are making it so. Life can be so unutterably hard at times. It makes me wonder and drives me mad. Good story form you this week.
Aloha,
Doug
LikeLike
Thanks, Doug. You’re right. What makes me especially upset is, I read in the paper here that India is accepting “imports” of trash as if there’s not enough here as it is. The greed is insatiable. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
This is heartbreaking in its realism. On the one hand the incredible wastefulness, on the other having no other means of survival than other people’s trash. It seems to happen everywhere, more or less severe.
LikeLike
Thanks, Gah. You’re right. It is heartbreaking, and it does happen in other countries besides India. The problem in India is that it’s accepted as a way of life, and ragpickters don’t get the benefits that city workers who collect the trash get. They need help to get more organization. There have been attempts, but more needs to be done. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Learned something. Thank you, Suzanne.
LikeLike
We regard them as poor and disposable but fail to recognise that they are providing a valuable service even if it is done for survival. I wish the whole operation would be stream-lined and organised so they can get regular jobs and better wages doing the same jobs under better conditions.
LikeLike
Thanks, JJ. You’re right. They do provide a valuable service. They need, as you say, help to get more organization and benefits. They face health hazards as it is now. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I read this Suzanne, I automatically thought of all the people that this truly is their reality. It’s so sad. Great story bringing this “harsh reality” to light.
LikeLike
A slice of life that is hard to imagine. Simple, yet powerfully told.
LikeLike
Thanks, Erin. I didn’t fully understand until I came here to live. I’m glad you liked the piece. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
how sad. i think this scenario can be seen even in the u.s.
LikeLike
Thanks, Plaridel. You’re right. I does happen in other countries, including the U.S. It just isn’t looked upon as a job in the way it is in India. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Having personally experiences many sides of India, Bravo Suzanne for capturing a piece that is real and so painful. Your story is wonderfully straightforward, without making it a lesson. Nice job!
LikeLike
Thank, Dawn. I’m so pleased you liked the story. I tried to show the real picture of this life the way I’ve both seen and read about it in the newspaper here also. The part about the man selling his child was in the newspaper and was true. —— Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, Suzanne, this is so heartbreaking. What a harsh reality that some face everyday. Very well done.
LikeLike
Thanks, Amy. It is both heartbreaking and harsh. People here are so used to it that it’s shock value has worn off. It’s become a sad fact of life. Many feel sorry for those people, but feel helpless to do anything about it. I’m so pleased you liked the story. Of course, it happens in other countries also, including the U.S., but is not seen as a job in the way it is here. —— Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
So bad. And yes it is a universal phenomena although it might show itself in different ways.
LikeLike
Thanks, Patrick. You’re right. The poor and needy are everywhere. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
What a sad story, Suzanne. Sadder still that it happens a thousand times over in Asia.
LikeLike
Thanks, Rosanna.. It just seems worse in some places because there are more people. It’s sad no matter where it takes place. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
Sad and sadder in its truth.
Ellespeth
LikeLike
Thanks, Ellespeth. Yes it is sad. They’re working, but it’s a life of poverty. They always risk becoming ill. —- Suzanne
LikeLike
I don’t know how I missed this one, Suzanne. A sad story lacking your usual humor, but well told. Unfortunately true in many places in the world. 😦
LikeLike
Thanks, Diana. Once in a while I write a true story or one that’s close to true. In India the rag pickers are a common sight. They choose to work rather than beg, but it’s a dangerous job. Their health is constantly at stake. They almost become invisible to people who pass by. Some are concerned, but don’t know how to make things better for them. Chances of an international NGO doing something appear remote. It’s probably one of those problems Inida will have to handle on its own. Who knows when that will happen. —– Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person