Aslam (with cap), 13 years old and Mohummad Tajzub (in white vest) on the bank of the holy river Yamuna near the iron bridge in North Delhi. Yamuna is one of the most polluted rivers in the world, especially around New Delhi, the capital of India, which dumps about 58% of its waste into the river. Though numerous attempts have been made to clean it, the efforts have proven to be futile. The river continues to be polluted with garbage while most sewage treatment facilities are malfunctioning. In addition, the water in this river remains stagnant for almost 9 months in a year aggravating the situation.
Aslam stays on the other side of the river with his family. He spends a couple of hours every day in the water looking for coins and other precious things that people have thrown into the river. He is able to find coins worth Rs 50-60 a day.
Mohummad Tajzub is a migrant from West Bengal. He works as an agricultural labourer back home for 10 months and comes here to delhi at the Yamuna for 2 months every year. He spends 5-6 hours every day in the water looking for coins and other precious things that people have thrown into the river. He is able to find coins worth Rs 80-120 a day