We were excitedly watching one of my favorite movies which goes by the name of War starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff, when the dance part of the movie came we all got really excited and started yelling. Few days later on the 5th of April during the Janta curfew I saw a post by Hrithik Roshan also cheering for the Sanitation workers, that kind of got me, thinking what will those people be going through right now with this Pandemic going on. I decided to write about the garbage man who cleans the three huge garbage cans right outside our house, because why not, we all keep writing articles about Current Affairs, sports and other stuff but have we ever stopped for once and thought about these workers who no matter what come to clean up and collect the garbage from our house.
Have we ever stopped to think about the danger that they might be facing. No! We don’t even care about them. Let me talk about the person who has been cleaning those garbage cans for 10 whole years, which is ever since we came to this house and started living here. He has been working for 31 years of his life. His name is Mr. S. Sitaraman and he is 58 years old, born on the 16th of March 1962, he leaves his house at 5:30am and reaches to start his work at 7:30am. Every day the garbage truck comes once in the morning to clear up all the garbage in the can and then he goes in the corporation given three-wheeler to all the houses on the seven streets to collect their garbage and comes and dump it back in the big can.
There are tons and tons of Health risks and in so many different forms. Let me explain just that:
Ø Number one: risk of Dog Bites ergo risk of getting Rabies, he has said that he has been bitten Four Times by dogs, but thankfully he has taken proper medications for it. This is extremely risky for him. Whenever he comes to take the garbage he gets followed by so many dogs all of which are hungry and looking for food.
Ø Number two: Glass Shards inside his nails or his in skin which is very harmful, reason being many broken glass bottles thrown inside the garbage. There’s also the risk of getting splinters of wood. This is because of people recklessness, when a bed is broken or old they just come and dump garbage outside near the can.
Ø Number three: Risk of Chemical Poisoning mainly Bleach. Every day he applies Bleaching powder around the garbage cans and in a lot of isolated places where people might have the tendency to dump it. Bleach is extremely corrosive in nature, which does cause harm to humans. Some symptoms are Stinging in the eyes and nose, lightheadedness, coughing. If the person is allergic to bleach it tends to weaken the skin’s barriers which in turn can make it more susceptible to tearing or burns.
Ø Number four: He also faces a lot of Emotional Problems, some people who have a notion fixed in their heads that they are placed higher than others, so they tend to disrespect the person, sometimes it goes as far as insulting the person’s family. These guys have no problem with collecting and picking up garbage, but if they even touch the compound wall or the gate of another person’s house those people do get offended and start yelling at them.
Ø Number five: Sometimes the garbage can might be Broken in places, for example; Wheels might be missing, Holes on the sides either from breaking it intentionally or corrosion of the material. All these are extremely dangerous for the man, think of it like this, what if the can is overflowing but one wheel is broken. That’s the perfect recipe for Disaster!!!
Ø Number six: He also has a Family to feed and take care of, he comes from a family of four which includes him, his wife Mrs. S. Lakshmi and his two sons S. Kamalesh and S. Lokesh of which Kamalesh is the older and Lokesh is the younger brother. For any person his or her family means everything to them.
Ø Number seven: His Personal Qualities, we can learn so much from him like Perseverance, Hard Work, Determination, Humility, And True Happiness. He is a very good example for all these qualities in a single person. These days’, qualities like these have gone under the knife, literally!
R MAHIMA RAM
XI GRADE
Dear Mahima,
You have beautifully brought these garbage collectors to the notice of us, so called elite, who have almost forgotten the love for humanity we ought to have. We rarely (almost never) take time to recognise the intensity of their fatal labour, which is the reason we can live in a clean environment. Instead, we go one step further (rather lower!) by adding to the muck around us. Indian statistics have identified 20,596 manual scavengers across the 18 states and between 1.5-4 million rag pickers across the country, but this is not even a fraction of the real figure. Their life expectancy is less than 30 and almost 1 in 3 infants die at birth. Whether we, as a…
Dear Mahima, You have chosen the more meaningful issue to address than many of us would think of. Kudos to your sensitivity. May you lead several youth into deeper thought and draw them to consider the real things (those that truly matter in this fleeting journey of life). It is true that every life is important and unique, but it is also true that many are undervalued. Thank you for correcting this dis-balance in your own little way by appreciating Mr. S. Sitaraman's brutal routine and garnering him with the respect due to him. Occupational hazards are more magnified in the less dignified (so to say) jobs. The nuances you have gone into are easier to imagine than actually acknowledge, lesser still embrace.…
Yes... He is the real hero... Thanks for your article.It seems like to move a next generation for choose their society which is useful and needful.Still most of the people dont know whats happening for sweepers in their day to day life.You have given a great message to understand clearly about that.Hats off to you..
We know Hrithik rosan face but wants to see this real Hero face without mask. if you have pls share here.
Hi Mahima You have written a well researched observation about the unsung heroes who are invisible to our adult eyes! The stark realities of these self effacing men and their lives is unrefutable.By the way they carry on their chores with dignity is what you have eulogized in your writing. It calls for an young person like you to drive home the need to be sensitive to the feelings of others and take stock of the situation and view realities in life in a different perspective! Keep writing to foster a sense of comradeship!!
A very thoughtful writing Mahima . You took a step forward understanding the challenges they face everyday 👌🏼👌🏼 Great work