06/11/2024
Repost from
Every year as Diwali approaches, headlines about air pollution in Delhi remind us of the environmental challenges that loom over us. In response, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab instituted a ban on firecrackers this year, aimed at curbing the already deteriorating air quality. Yet, despite these clear government warnings and Supreme Court directives, the festival saw widespread firecracker use, further degrading air quality. For many, the solution is simple: retreat indoors, turn on the air purifier and insulate their private spaces from the public harm of toxic air.This behaviour underscores a critical issue: when the government fails to ensure public goods like clean air, either you become wealthy enough to shield yourself, or you face the health consequences. In this increasingly materialistic world, where individual wealth is becoming the primary means to shield oneself from collective problems, the concept of collective action and shared responsibility is rapidly eroding. When affluent households can afford to insulate their private spaces with costly air purifiers, the very foundation of social trust and collective efficacy begins to weaken.Read the full story by Soumyajit Bhar and Kalpita Bhar Paul at thewire.in
