Stop cribbing about how little you make (Part II)
In rising, shining, incredible India—in the nation with the fourth most number of dollar-millionaires, which has clocked an 8 per cent growth in its GDP four years in a row, whose non-residents sent back $27 billion last year—a civic worker in the country’s first planned City enters a manhole in Devaraja Mohalla to clear a blocked drain after heavy rains.
As Star of Mysore pertinently notes, the worker did not have any professional tools nor any safety equipment, and there were no caution signs around him to warn motorists of his presence.
Photograph: courtesy Hampa Nagaraj/ Star of Mysore
1 April 2008 at 6:02 pm
The worker’s name is Ammavase a Tamilian, cleaning up Mysore’s shit. Why should he do it? Dignity of Labour.
1 April 2008 at 6:11 pm
Agreed, his is a dirty job. How much does he make?
1 April 2008 at 6:55 pm
It is high time the local corporations invested money on some high tech tools to clear the clogged drains….this is pathetic….I really feel sorry for this guy
1 April 2008 at 8:20 pm
Some years back,there was a problem in the underground sewer pipe in my street(in madras) and the clog was cleared manually.I was disussing this problem with someone who knew how the admn works.He told me that these class of workers come from the lowest strata of society and would have nothing else to do,if machines replaced men.The situation is pathetic.But they have to be rehabilitated.
1 April 2008 at 8:29 pm
KL, these people lose their jobs if machines are employed is not a valid reason to put a person through this kind of shiit….they could be employed elsewhere.
1 April 2008 at 8:54 pm
mayura,i agree.
1 April 2008 at 9:16 pm
MCC under Mr. Manivannan has arranged for gloves, goggles and other safety gear for workers who work on Underground areas.As it happens most of times, either the supervisor doesn’t ensure the workers use these or sometimes the workers themselves do not use these safety devices.In any case it is terrible such things happen and it is mainly due to our major failing - lack of descipline in every walk of life, from top to bottom.
1 April 2008 at 10:00 pm
ERR,
There are trucks available abroad which is equipped with automatic suction tools and such to unclogg clogged drains. These could be imported since we have loads of forex now and be used in the municipalities instead of doing the same work wearing gloves and goggles. I presume mysore and bangalore corporations must be making loads of money, what with real estate boom etc.
1 April 2008 at 10:33 pm
Guess you guys would have seen this http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/dirtyjobs/top-ten/top-ten.html , this is a perennial crib of ours and still we will have these guys working in the same manner
1 April 2008 at 11:17 pm
Cogratulations for putting up this photo and write up. The photo captures all round apathy, indifference of the decision makers, lack of training and safety awareness. In Bangalore I see whiite washing and painting labour of multistorey buildings hanging on a slim wooden paltforms hung by twinropes held by two or three persons from roof.
2 April 2008 at 1:04 am
This photo has got nothing to do with my pay or your pay.
It depicts the how the city corporation cares for its employees.
2 April 2008 at 2:08 pm
We should beat up that dirty Tamilian. How dare he deprive poor “Dr.Ramesh”s their job. Send him back to Namakkal!
8 April 2008 at 1:14 pm
>>@rama Says:
We should beat up that dirty Tamilian. How dare he deprive poor “Dr.Ramesh”s their job. Send him back to Namakkal!
>>
You seem to be obsessed with the doctor! Give yourself a break. Have a bath and comeback.
11 April 2008 at 2:36 pm
otherwise: Just smile. I wanted to be before the doctor comes with similiar comments. He’s hard core you know!
8 May 2008 at 9:33 am
We are ready to pay astronomical sums to see semi clad Cheer leaders but we crib to pay these guys always who clean our dirty jobs. This is th Shining India which our PM & FM and RBI Governor should project. ooka t the all karnataka Politicians. Most of tehm have doubled their Assets within 4 years. But , IT officials choose to ignore their published assets. MERA BHRAT MAHAAN
10 May 2008 at 7:47 am
I hope this blog eventually doesnt turn up into a inter state fued gossip. We tell Europeans are racist but so are we… That man irrespective from where in the world he comes from is being subjected to filth by almost keeping the gun of poverty over his head. In which developed country are men treated like this? Where do all the money taken from the taxing tax payers go one wonders. Please u government care takers or jokers utilise the money to buy machineries and equipments to make this job automatic. For how many years will be parasite to citizen’s earnings?