Question

What do the inhabitants of Seemapuri do for their survival?

Hint:

Seemapuri symbolizes how poverty and migration force people into undignified work, but also their resilience to survive against all odds.

Answer 1

Step 1: Background of Seemapuri.
Seemapuri is a settlement on the outskirts of Delhi where many poor families live. Most of its inhabitants migrated from Bangladesh years ago and have been living there without proper facilities such as sanitation, clean water, or education.
Step 2: Their occupation.
The only means of survival for the people of Seemapuri is ragpicking. The men, women, and even children work as ragpickers. They search through garbage heaps to find recyclable items like plastic, metal, or paper that can be sold to earn money.
Step 3: Importance of garbage.
For them, garbage is not waste—it is their source of livelihood. It provides them with food, money, and even small hopes for survival. For the elders, garbage means income, while for children it sometimes also means finding coins or useful objects.
Step 4: Lack of education and facilities.
Instead of going to school, children are forced into ragpicking to support their families. Poverty compels them to ignore education, health, and a better future, focusing only on day-to-day survival.
Conclusion:
Thus, the inhabitants of Seemapuri survive by ragpicking, which reflects the harsh realities of poverty where even children lose their childhood to earn bread for their families.