To create awareness on the issues of contaminated soil, unsafe dumping of garbage and open defecation, the Humara Bachpan initiated an innovative activity among children on the eve of the World Earth Day. The children from various slums of the city did a flash mob followed by a rally at the Old bus stand area.
City-based organisations like CCWD and GJS had conceptualised the whole initiative and also held a signature campaign on the occasion.Near about 100 children from around 10 slums had participated. It may be noted that in India waste collection coverage ranges from 70 per cent to 90 per cent in major metropolitan cities, and is less than 50 per cent in smaller cities. Bacterial and fungal spores produced by decaying waste are ten times higher in areas where the bins are not collected regularly. This adversely affects children’s health.
It is estimated that about 1, 15,000 MT of solid waste is generated in the country. Per capita waste generation in city varies from 0.2 kg to 0.6 kg per day. This is increasing by 1.3 per cent per year. This is now alarmingly impacting the soil of urban areas in mostly slums.
Because parts of the dumping yards emit dangerous gases like methane, carbon dioxide and sulphur, which are extremely carcinogenic and often catch fire, they constitute a big threat to the civilians. Prolonged exposure to the methane gas causes dizziness, headaches, emotional upset, nausea, unconsciousness, respiratory collapse, mental disorders and even death.
In Odisha specifically the urban areas; the issue of open defecation is rampant. More than 50 per cent of the urban slum dwellers defecate in open.It again affects the soil close to the slums and also causes many diseases to children in specific. Dumping yards are also causing harm to the soil and hence children of the city are facing many diseases.