In this powerful ground report by Geetanjali, we travel to the heart of Delhi’s Okhla constituency—a region that has long been ignored by successive governments despite being just a few kilometers from the nation’s corridors of power. From Madanpur Khadar to Shaheen Bagh, Tikona Park to Batla House, the scenes are grim: broken roads, toxic air, garbage-laden streets, and residents who have to fight daily for clean drinking water and basic hygiene. These aren’t isolated incidents—they reflect a systemic failure that continues even after multiple elections, manifestos, and political promises. According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s April 2025 report, Delhi alone produces 1,117 tonnes of plastic waste daily—nearly a quarter of which goes unmanaged. India generates 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with 3.5 million tonnes directly entering our environment. Add to that the deadly air pollution, which the Nature Journal says claims over 1 million Indian lives every year.