Week of May 16, 2009
Radi WallaLekh Ram weighs newspapers on the street outside his shop in Ambala, India. Photo by Michael Beebe.
Description
The election season in India is over, and many are waiting to see what the new government will bring. The Dalits –- who used to be called "untouchables" -– are watching closely. Politicians -– including the Dalit political star, Mayawati -– made many promises during the campaign to improve the lot of the lowest caste.
If they fulfill those promises, that would be good news for people like Lekh Ram. He's known as a radi walla, someone who collects recyclables for a living. Here's reporter Mary Stucky with the latest installment in our Street Vendor series.