Seelampur's E-Waste Crisis: Children Risk Health for Meager Wages
In the narrow, congested lanes of Seelampur in northeast Delhi, two young boys work quietly. Eleven-year-old Zakir and his ten-year-old friend Zehaan scan the area for valuable waste. They hope to collect any piece of scrap they can find. A 26-year-old man named Pawan supervises them. He helps identify items suitable for sale.
Daily Struggle with Bare Hands
The children spot some electronic parts dumped nearby. Without proper tools, they use bricks to break them open. They extract metal from the debris. "We are not thieves," Zakir explains. "Shopkeepers discard items here. We find metal in them and sell it." He sifts through discarded laptops, computers, and smartphones.
This routine has defined Zakir's life for six years. "I don't take breaks," he says. "I must earn every single day. In the evening, we sell the electronic waste in Seemapuri. We earn only 100 to 200 rupees daily." Zakir gives half of this small amount to his parents.
Zehaan feels exhausted by the drudgery. "My hands have lost all shine," he shares. "They are dirty and rough now. We get cuts while handling e-waste and extracting metals. But we have grown used to it." Like these boys, many people in Seelampur rely on e-waste dumped by local shopkeepers.
They find it in open spaces, trash bins, or drains. Combing through this waste lets them buy food for their families. They often use bare hands to sort sharp metal pieces.
Seelampur: A Hub of Unregulated Dismantling
Seelampur stands as one of India's largest hubs for unregulated e-waste dismantling. The area features toxic fumes, swinging hammers, weighing scales, and heaps of burning garbage. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi generated over 2,130 tonnes of e-waste in 2021-22. Most of this waste ended up in Seelampur.
Cramped lanes, specifically Gali No. 3 and 4, serve as the final destination for numerous electronic devices. Small establishments overflow with electronic components. You see hard drives, motherboards, capacitors, and batteries everywhere. Printers, televisions, and mobile phones add to the clutter. Surplus waste spills into the narrow pathways.
Locals earn their livelihood by breaking down this unprocessed e-waste. They recover valuable metals like copper, gold, and silver. Then they sell the remaining materials to nearby traders at current market prices.
Regulations Ignored in the Informal Market
The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, came from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. Implementation started on April 1, 2023. These rules define e-waste as discarded electrical and electronic equipment. This includes solar photo-voltaic modules, panels, or cells, either whole or in parts. Manufacturing, refurbishment, and repair rejects also count as e-waste.
The rules mandate that all recyclers and dealers must register via an online portal. Anyone operating without registration may face environmental penalties. Recycling e-waste is permitted, but dismantling it inside city limits is strictly prohibited.
Despite these guidelines, safety precautions take a backseat in Seelampur's informal market. Many people work in small establishments with little or no ventilation. They often handle dangerous substances and acids without essential protective equipment. Eye protection, hand coverings, and appropriate footwear are rarely used.
Limited Awareness and Razor-Thin Margins
Most workers and shop owners demonstrate limited knowledge of government regulations. They know little about proper e-waste treatment and environmental protection. Ibrahamdin, a 55-year-old local e-waste dealer, entered the trade in 2020. He left his previous job to do this work.
"We deal in all types of e-waste dumped in the lanes," Ibrahamdin says. "A truck comes once or twice a week. After that, workers dismantle the e-waste with tools like hammers and screwdrivers. They extract metals."
He adds warily, "The job of extracting metals demands pain and force. There is a high risk of hurting yourself. A hammer or a piece of metal can crash into your eyes."
Margins are razor thin in this sector. Ibrahamdin finds it nearly impossible to provide any protective gear to his workers. "Our workers make 200 to 300 rupees working 10 to 12 hours daily," he explains. "They can barely make ends meet. They are labourers. They get by with one square meal."
A Glimmer of Hope: The Proposed Eco-Park
In this highly unregulated sector, a proposed eco-park offers some hope. It will sit at Holambi Kalan in Narela. Billed as the country's first organised e-waste recycling hub, this 10.5-acre facility will process 110,000 metric tonnes per year. Renders for the project will float soon.
But the wait could stretch another 18 months. Until then, electronic debris will continue to pile up in Delhi's informal scrapyards and residential pockets.
Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa recently discussed the plant. He said it was being designed to manage both current and future e-waste volumes. "It will be a zero-emission plant," Sirsa added. "Special scrubbers and technology will ensure that nothing is released into air or water. The plant will also integrate the informal sector. It will manage e-waste considering future waste generation."
For now, children like Zakir and Zehaan continue their dangerous work. They risk their health daily in Seelampur's toxic environment. Their story highlights the urgent need for effective e-waste management and child protection in India's capital.
