“Selling fruits, breathing pollution”
Breathing to survive
Every morning, fruit vendors arrange fresh bananas, apples, watermelons, and seasonal fruits with the hope of earning enough to support their families.
Yet, before the first customer arrives, they are already surrounded by polluted air.
Located near the Hanumante River, they spend long hours breathing dust from passing vehicles, smoke, and the persistent foul smell rising from the polluted river.
For them, clean air is not a choice—it is a luxury they cannot afford. Unlike customers who visit for a few minutes, these vendors remain in the same environment for 10 to 12 hours every day.
The unpleasant odor, mixed with polluted air, causes headaches, breathing discomfort, and constant fatigue.
Despite these challenges, they continue working because missing a day's income could mean struggling to meet their family's basic needs. Their fruits symbolize health and nourishment, yet the people selling them are forced to work in conditions that threaten their own well-being.
This scene reminds us that air pollution is not just an environmental issue, it is a human one.
While others can walk away from the smell and pollution, these vendors endure it every day, sacrificing their health to earn an honest living and put food on the table.
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@banshika-adhikari
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