Describe the life as lived by …

A squatter occupies the public land without the government licence. The squatters have migrated from Bangaladesh to Seemapuri in East Delhi. they have settled there are setup their transit camps in a wilderness on the periphery of Delhi. The structures are made of wood with roofs of tin and tarpaulin. The squatters are devoid of basic facilities like water, drainage and sewerage. They have ration cards to buy grains and for voting purposes. They look for gold by picking rags and there dwell more than 10,000 children. They move in the streets barefoot. Sometimes they find a coin but continue scrounging garbage in hope of find more. For the elders the garbage is gold. It is a means of survival for their children and is wrapped in wonder. They are abused but, can practise any criminal activity.

Seemapuri is still in wilderness but it is no longer empty. In 1971 it was inhabited illegally by more than 10,000 rag-pickers from Bangladesh in 1971. It is on the periphery of Delhi yet it is miles away from it metaphorically. People live in structures of mud, with roofs of tin and tarpaulin. It is devoid of sewage, drainage and running water. They have got ration cards for votes and buying grains. They have no identity. Women move in tattered saris. Survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking.