River prospectors in India jeopardize their wellbeing in pursuit of valuable findings
In the heart of New Delhi, a group of divers known as gotakhors bravely plunge into the heavily polluted waters of the Yamuna River in search of a living. This ancient profession, rooted in India's rich cultural heritage, continues to thrive amidst the challenges of modern urban life.
The Yamuna River, considered one of the most sacred rivers in India, has been a source of water for drinking and irrigation. However, its current state is far from pristine, posing significant health hazards for the divers who work in its waters.
Ramu Gupta, a 67-year-old gotakhors, has been diving in the Yamuna River for decades. He earns approximately 5,000 rupees (US$58) per month from his dangerous work. Despite the health risks, Gupta, a devout Hindu, believes he is protected by "Mata Rani," the Hindu mother goddess.
The divers' work often involves potentially dangerous tasks such as retrieving bodies and rescuing people. Gupta expresses that he is not afraid of the river because he believes "Mata Rani" will protect him.
The river is also home to a booming scrap market. Most of the divers' work involves collecting coins, bottles, and plastics from the river. Occasionally, they may find slivers of gold, gold rings, or necklaces.
Arvind Kumar, who has been working on the Yamuna River full-time for nearly 12 years, shares similar sentiments. He uses the extra income he earns to save for his two grandchildren.
The income for gotakhors is precarious and low. They generally earn between ₹200 to ₹600 per day (around the range of unskilled labor wages or below in urban India), often below the government's minimum wage for unskilled workers.
Their earnings depend on the day’s finds, but these are often irregular. Hindus consider rivers as holy and toss offerings into the Yamuna River, adding to the divers' daily tasks.
Despite the hardships, the work provides a livelihood for hundreds of families in New Delhi and other parts of India, especially those with limited employment opportunities. The history of the gotakhors is closely linked to cultural and economic activities along rivers, with communities like the Gangaputras (Majhis and Mallahs) who have traditionally worked in related roles like ferrying people.
However, the urbanization and modernization of these river environments have transformed these once-thriving livelihoods. The gotakhors now face significant health hazards from pollution and unsafe conditions, coupled with unstable economic returns below living wage levels.
In summary, the gotakhors in New Delhi play a marginal but vital role in urban river economies by recovering recyclables and valuables from polluted waters. Their history reflects both cultural heritage and the socio-economic challenges of urban river environments in India today.
- Given the hazardous conditions and low income, it's essential for the health-and-wellness of the gotakhors to implement workplace-wellness programs, addressing their physical and mental health concerns caused by climate-change impacts and pollution.
- To further improve their well-being, environmental-science education could be integrated into their community to encourage practices that promote fitness-and-exercise and reduce climate-change effects, ultimately leading to a healthier Yamuna River and a safer work environment for the gotakhors.
- As the government is aware of the economic struggles faced by the gotakhors, they should strive for increasing their minimum wage, bringing it up to a living wage level, ensuring workers' well-being is consistently prioritized in urban river economies, upholding science-based, health-and-wellness standards that safeguard the gotakhors' present and future.
