Sanitation workers under Kohima Municipal Council pose for a photograph.
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | April 9
Imagine waking up at the crack of dawn just to make your way to a stench-filled garbage point every morning. Sanitation workers, garbage collectors or call it what you will- these intrepid men are a mystery, who have silently done their job, daily. By the time a common person starts her/his day, they have already cleared all forms of garbage, piled up in 37 different collection points in Kohima Town.
The 40-odd sanitation workers are on the job by 4:00 am, ensuring that citizens are not greeted by dirt when they step out. Rain or sunshine, they perform their jobs in all kinds of weather on a meager salary of Rs. 5500 per month, which was enhanced from Rs. 4500 only two years ago.
Ishrao, who has been in the job for 35 years now, said he has become accustomed to the unpleasant odour that always accompanies a garbage pile. It is a dirty job any way you look at it, but the sanitation worker has clearly dedicated his life to cleaning. “If I don’t collect the garbage, who will?” he maintained.
50-year old Afren from Jharkhand has also spent over 10 years collecting garbage in Kohima. For him, “it is not just about earning a livelihood but keeping Kohima city clean.” Like the rest of them, the father of four children, has willingly risked his life to one of the most hazardous jobs in the world.
“These are the people who sacrifice. They are the ones who are actually the face of KMC,” Kovi Meyase, Administrator of Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) strongly asserted. “It is these people who are toiling every single day and when the face of Kohima improves, it is them who earn us that name.”
“My sanitation workers don’t have any Sundays, holidays, Diwalis, Pujas, or Christmas. In fact, there is more garbage to be cleared during the festive season,” he said. “If they fall ill or is indisposed, one particular location gets piled up,” Meyase further enlightened.
Senior Sanitary Inspector, KMC, Neilhouphrelie Paphino also reiterated, “We hardly get holidays and festive season means more work. When people eat more, there is more waste.”
The garbage collection points start from the South PS Junction to Duda Guest House and Sanourü towards Secretariat Road, including the vicinity of DC’s Office and Raj Bhavan.
The sanitation workers have been provided with personal equipments like gumboots, gloves, and protective head gears. It was also learnt that apart from health seminars, efforts have been made in collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer’s office to cover the sanitation workers under a provision where free medical care is given.
Mention may be made here that currently there are 7 dirt carriage vehicles for Kohima. Management of waste in a more scientific way is expected to be possible once KMC receives the 29 dirt vehicles customised for wet and dry waste from State Investment Programme Management & Implementation Unit (SIPMIU). Out of the 29, 19 dirt vehicles will go to the wards and 10 to KMC.
