India Deploys Robots to Eliminate Hazardous Sewer Work as Global Leaders Discuss Radical Life Extension
New Delhi – In a move to safeguard sanitation workers, the Delhi government is accelerating a transition from manual sewer cleaning to robotic alternatives, while, thousands of miles away, discussions about dramatically extending human lifespan are gaining traction among world leaders. The dual developments highlight a stark contrast: addressing immediate, life-threatening working conditions alongside enterprising, long-term explorations into the science of aging.
This week, a translated exchange between Chinese President Xi Jinping, 72, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, also 72, surfaced, with Jinping suggesting that advancements in biotechnology and organ transplantation could lead to “immortality.” Putin reportedly responded that continuous organ transplants could allow people to “live younger and younger.” However,experts caution that such a scenario remains firmly in the realm of speculation.
Despite being outlawed as 1993, manual scavenging – the practice of removing human waste by hand – persists across India, posing critically important health and safety risks.Jitender, a New Delhi resident whose parents were manual scavengers, is now part of a network of nearly 200 contractors assisting the Delhi government in implementing mechanical sanitation methods.
Several companies are now offering robotic solutions to address the problem, ranging in complexity and cost. The shift aims to eliminate the undignified and dangerous work that has historically claimed the lives of countless sanitation workers.Meanwhile, the conversation around radical life extension continues, though scientists emphasize the complexities of aging. Researchers disagree on the basic causes of aging,its definition,and potential “treatments,” making the prospect of achieving immortality through organ transplantation,as suggested by the two leaders,highly improbable in the near future.
