Poverty to Rag Picking: An Unfolding Facts about Child Rag Pickers in Malda, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Rag picking is considered one of the most hazardous occupations in the world. Rag pickers serve society by managing waste, yet they remain among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. It’s Needless to say, child rag pickers live in extremely precarious conditions due to the nature of their work. In addition to unhygienic living and working environments, these children are morally and socially exploited because of their occupation. The lack of basic amenities, excessive work pressure, social neglect, and persistent restlessness contribute to the development of various psychological disorders among them. These children are born into poverty and die with poverty. This paper has studied mainly livelihood issues of the child rag pickers in Malda district of West Bengal. A total of 15 child rag pickers as well as 15 parents of child ragpickers were studied in depth through an analysis of their social and demographic backgrounds. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and systematic observation over a long duration, from 2020 to 2025.