Waste

Santosh, Sameer and Salman – three real-life “slumdogs” – live in Mumbai and earn their living scavenging rubbish in Dharavi, Asia’s biggest slum. They are among the millions of child ragpickers in the city. Their carefree attitude contrasts sharply with the struggles and health hazards of their daily existence. Barefoot, the boys comb through the mountains of rubbish on the outskirts of the Indian metropolis that generates 8,000 metric tons of waste every day. They have no protection against the dangerous toxins that surround them. At age thirteen the savvy Santosh, aka the Scientist, is the sole breadwinner in his family. The resourceful youngsters know exactly how many Rupees each plastic bottle or tin can is worth. In the giant, unofficially-run recycling centre they are paid according to the weight of rubbish they have collected. But soon the waste facility will close. What will happen to Santosh and his friends then when their chances of becoming Slumdog Millionaires are slim to none? (DOK.fest München)