Lens with a heart
Panna Sanitation Workers – A Thankless Job
–By Sudharak Olwe*
Geeta Mattu, a Valmiki by caste, and Sashi Balmeek were cleaning one of the regular alleys of Agra Mohalla in Panna District where they found a hurt and comatose cow breathing its last near an open garbage point. “It will die in a few hours and will be picked up by the corporation workers who ferry the garbage truck,” says Geeta as she sweeps past the almost dead cow with dust settling over its body.
Geeta had to take up this job when a sudden financial crisis hit the family. She hates the job of a sanitation worker. “There is hardly any respect in it. We are treated so badly. It’s such a thankless job,” she laments.
Also see: Photo Essay: Including the Excluded – Part 2
Geeta, Sashi and a few other women sweep the roads and alleys from 5am to 7am. Then they carry on to clean the entire Agra Mohalla from 10am to 1pm. For this they earn up to Rs 7,000. While Geeta is a year-old in this job, 55-year-old Shashi has been working with the corporation for over 16 years but still hasn’t been made permanent. She earns the same as Geeta and the rest of the women.
Raju Dumar has spent quarter of his 50 years of life cleaning the streets of Agra Mohalla. He works as a permanent sanitation worker with the corporation and earns 13,000 per month. He too starts his day cleaning the alleys at 5am and is also involved in cleaning septic tanks.
*Sudharak Olwe is an Indian Social Documentary Photographer. In 2016, he was conferred the Padma Shri, India’s 4th Highest Civilian Award by the President of India, in recognition of his valuable and tireless work.
