Hired sanitation workers go extra mile to ensure cleanliness in city

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 11

Though sanitation workers associated with the civic body and other organisations are being honoured and people recognise their services in and around the city, private sweepers, including Dev Kumar, who have been hired by residents on their own, have been working without any motivation or support.

A large number of sanitation workers have been employed by residents. They don't get any regular salary or job benefits. Dev, a resident of Chatiwind area, works in New Amritsar locality. He cleans two streets with a broom and collects Rs100 from each house at the end of the month. Dev and his wife earn Rs2,000 per month. With the Covid outbreak, residents are now more concerned about sanitation, which has increased the working hours of Dev.

"Earlier, we used to clean streets from 8 am and to 12 pm. Now, we have to work till 2 pm as residents want proper cleanliness. I am aware of Covid and have been taking some precautions," said Dev.

Dev and other private sanitation workers have not been getting any support from the government or NGOs at this time of crisis.

"I got only a mask from the president of the local mohalla committee. Sanitation workers, who have been associated with the civic body or the Amritsar Improvement Trust, may get some benefits while working under high risk. But, we have to work without any support," he said.

"A large number of sanitation workers are being employed by Mohalla Sudhar Committees and small street-level groups. No one is recognising their work as they are not organised," said Advocate Vishav, an activist who works for the rights of sanitation workers.