Health and sanitation workers were felicitated by a group of residents in south Kolkata for their untiring service during the lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phalguni Mandal, an accredited social health activist (ASHA), said she has “never been so happy as [I] was never felicitated [before].”
Health activist Tapash Pramanik; Rekha Singh, who cleans roads, and Animesh Dey, who works for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, were among those felicitated by the residents of Mandeville Gardens area.
“They are special as they did a special job,” said Bharati Biswas, a resident. “While we are relaxing at home, they are working outside risking their lives,” said Ms. Biswas.
The residents of ward number 68 gave sweets and red roses to the health and sanitation workers, and garlanded them.
Elderly residents, who could not come out of their apartments, showered them with marigold petals from the balcony or rooftops.
“Everybody in Mandeville Gardens came out, participated in the felicitation one way or the other, acknowledging the relentless service of these women and men, who serve us throughout the year but particularly now when we all are in dire straits,” said ward councillor Sudarshana Mukherjee.
“I hope the rest of the city will come out, maintaining norms of distancing, to felicitate workers in their areas,” said a senior citizen.
