BY: THE PLAID ZEBRA
Kolkata based photographer Debosmita Das first discovered the slum that runs along an active railroad on her route to work. The residents welcomed Das into their community and allowed her to photograph their dangerous lifestyle.
In her photo story Life and Lines, Das tries to raise awareness of the ongoing issue. Das acknowledged that the story of these people needed to be told, as their hazardous living conditions remain hidden from the public eye.
The photo series Life and Lines is a documentary work on an illegal slum that has grown over the years beside active railway tracks. Lakhs of people come to Kolkata everyday to earn their bread. Owing to the ever increasing cost of living, there is no way for the meagre income of the migrants to support a wholesome life.
Poverty has forced these people to embrace a dangerous lifestyle, so they started to live in this makeshift slum. Although prohibited by law, areas like the railway communities are filled to breaking point with people, forcing large families to live within the confines of small shelters and encampments. One of the most harrowing aspects of living in these domiciles is that in order to carry out routine household tasks like cooking and cleaning, the people must venture out into the centre of the tracks. Though no slum dweller has gotten killed by passing trains officially, it’s very easy to get injured and many have had near misses.
Due to various political disputes, all the past efforts from local government to offer them a better living option has gone in vain. Presently many non-governmental organizations are carrying out several awareness sessions and health camps across this area.
