Background

Air pollution is one of the most pressing challenges that India is facing, with the pollution levels being among the highest in the world. These pollutants pose a grave threat to the people, the economy, and the environment. One of the most dangerous pollutants in the air is PM 2.5, or particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, which primarily comes from burning fossil fuels and crop residues. It can also come from windblown dust, which includes dust from construction sites, roads, and industrial plants, common sights in urban locales. These fine particles can travel deep into the respiratory tract and cause both short and long-term health issues. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pollution is responsible for the death of almost seven million people around the world each year. The effects of air pollution are extremely dire, and the most populated countries in the world, India and China, bear the maximum burden of this. While the effects of pollution on the human body vary depending on the type of pollutant, the length of exposure, the amount of exposure, and personal factors such as pre-existing health conditions, it’s safe to say that we are all at risk.

There is no doubt that combating air pollution must be a top priority action item for the government in its larger environmental agenda. The effects on public health are hard to ignore and active measures have been taken by the government to mitigate these issues. However, the very communities who face more dire consequences of toxic air, because of their lack of access to pollution-free environments, or their outdoor workplaces, are sometimes left behind when it comes to social initiatives. It is imperative that programs are specifically designed to benefit these communities as well, and this is where Project AirFair comes in.