At TribesforGOOD, we believe in the power of young people to shape narratives that matter—stories that not only raise awareness but also spark real conversations and connections.
Aanavi Sushmita, a Grade 12 student from Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, embodies this spirit through her project that blends heritage education, community storytelling, and social impact.
Aanavi joined the TribesforGOOD with a deep curiosity for history—not just as something preserved in textbooks, but as a living, breathing force that shapes identity and everyday life. Her project brought this idea to life through virtual workshops with NGOs, where she engaged young learners in reflecting on their personal and local histories. She invited participants to see themselves as part of a broader historical story.
But Aanavi’s journey didn’t stop at sparking thought; she moved into hands-on action. She created a Heritage Box, a curated kit celebrating Delhi’s vibrant past, which she brought to the Gulmeher Foundation to open up intimate dialogues with the women working there. Through these conversations, Aanavi also filmed a documentary, capturing stories of these women, how they see their cities heritage and culture, stories often overlooked in the dominant historical record.
Her commitment to revealing forgotten or ignored narratives comes through an even more powerfully written article, let’s dive in into what Aanavi has to say:
Rapid urbanisation, consumerism, and changing lifestyles of inhabitants globally has led to a tremendous increase in the quantity of solid waste generated across the world. As one of the largest cities in India, Delhi is no different. The capital city generates approximately 11,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day. This makes Delhi the city with the highest waste generation in India. However, not all of this waste is processed, with a significant portion ending up in landfills.
‘Ghazipur’, known colloquially as ‘Ghazipur Ka Khatta’, is one of the biggest and oldest landfills in Delhi. The municipality’s solid waste has been carelessly dumped at this site for the past 30 years, resulting in the landfill growing into a towering heap of garbage. There is an estimate that the waste sector contributes approximately 5% to global greenhouse gas emissions. It is an area where many poor migrants work as waste pickers, because there is no documentation of any kind required for it.
Through this article, Aanavi focuses on examining the lives of these migrant waste workers and understanding the everyday problems faced by them in their work. This includes a group of six migrant women, referred to as Shabana, Shakila, Riya, Maitryee, Diya, and Vrinda for anonymity and confidentiality. Four of them are from Bihar, one from West Bengal, and one from Delhi.
Crucial Problems Faced by Waste Workers In conversation, the women opened up about three crucial problems they faced including:
Lack of access to sanitised water
Police corruption
Access to alcohol
Aanavi unravels these issues step by step:
Lack of access to sanitised water
In 2011, around 1.7 million people lived below the poverty line, which was approximately 9% of the population. According to the National Health Urban Mission, the households below the poverty line and those just above it lack access to basic amenities such as clean drinking water.
Ghazipur lacks basic drinking water facilities, so there is a high dependence on groundwater. The sentiments of the women in the focus group discussion reflect the same.
The workplace of the women is within a close radius of the landfill. Shakila voiced a concern that
‘jo paani hum istemal karte hai, khana banane ke liye, nahane ke liye woh rung jaise narangi, peela se bhara hota hai’ (the water that we use for daily tasks is often coloured orange or yellow).
The respondents voiced concerns about its adverse health impact on their children and themselves. They shared that a few years ago, they formed a group and approached the police regarding the water problem. The police dismissed them and said, “Why does it matter to us? This is not a rich neighbourhood.” This greatly disappointed them, but the women mentioned that they have come to expect such statements now. Statements such as this suggest that water access in India is deeply embedded in its socio-political landscape.
Ghazipur Landfill Source: Sky News
Police Corruption
Whereas Shabana in the group, mentioned that her experience with the police in the area has been particularly negative.
“Once a group of people randomly beat up my husband, when we went to the police, they refused to record our case; instead, they locked up my husband.”
Shakila mention(ed) that it was done because the group had ‘called up’ the police, which in colloquial language meant giving a bribe in the form of money. They mentioned that such instances were not isolated experiences, but were the norm.
Access to alcohol
India is the world’s third-largest market after China and Russia for the sale of alcohol. According to a government survey from 2019, almost one in every seven Indians aged 10-75 had consumed alcohol. The consumption of alcohol was more common amongst men, with 27.3% and 1.6% of women. Hence, India is not alien to the concept of alcohol, and it is relatively acceptable in society.
The constitution leaves the policy of alcohol in the state list, wherein the state government has the power to decide the alcohol policy it will pursue. There are many variations within India itself; some states, such as Gujarat and Bihar, are said to be ‘dry states’ where alcohol is almost totally banned with some exceptions. However, the ground reality is quite different, wherein a flourishing black market of alcohol exists. States such as Punjab and the union territory of Delhi have comparatively relaxed norms in terms of liquor consumption.
While conducting the focus group discussion, Diya and Shakila expressed their deep concern over children having unlimited access to alcohol. “I have seen a 10-year-old drink and sell alcohol”, Shakila mentions. They observed increased street fights, memory loss, to name a few as pressing concerns of use of alcohol in the area.
In conclusion, there are many problems in the area around Ghazipur, reports Aanavi, due to lawlessness and no stringent action by the relevant authorities.
However, a few policy changes which can be implemented to tackle the issues discussed by the respondents including:
Installation of community-level water purification plants
Government-subsidised piped water supply through the Jal Jeevan Mission expansion
Digitalisation of FIR filing and case tracking to reduce bribe-based processes and delays.
Create a district-level independent complaint redressal board with civilian oversight.
Stricter enforcement of licensing and zoning laws to prevent unauthorised liquor shops.
A New Generation of Historians, Advocates, and Changemakers
Aanavi’s work reminds us that real change often begins with asking the right questions, listening closely, and responding with empathy and courage. By spotlighting the stories of women living and working around Ghazipur, she invites us to challenge systems of neglect and invisibility—and to reimagine what justice can look like when youth take the lead.
Her recommendations are rooted in lived experience and grassroots insight.
As Aanavi continues her journey—from heritage workshops to on-ground storytelling and advocacy—we are proud to stand beside her. Because when youth like her lead with purpose, creativity, and compassion, the world begins to shift.
And that is exactly the kind of history we want to help create!
Explore what you can do at: www. tribesforgood.com
