VISAKHAPATNAM: B Atchiyamma, a sanitary worker engaged in night sweeping activities of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, never minds leaving her family or a mild illness to keep the city spic and span.
Habituated to combating the body’s natural rest period, she works silently and untiringly when the entire city is sleeping. Atchiyamma is one of the some 400 unsung heroes who toil during the nights to make the city ready for the next day to come.
Working in small groups, the presence of these sanitation warriors is felt in every important junction of the city for the public, those who step out of their homes even during the middle of the nights. Interestingly, the majority of the night sanitary workers are women.
A Yellayamma, another night shift worker who delivers her duty near King George Hospital, is happy to contribute to the city’s cleanliness apart from becoming a breadwinner for her family. Their work, which largely goes behind the scenes, is one that drove the city towards bagging the 9th rank in the Swachh Survekshan-2021.
In a bid to encourage their work and address the gaps, the GVMC officials conducted a surprise inspection at several parts of the city for about two hours on Tuesday midnight. ToI accompanied the officials to get a glimpse of what this small stratum of society is doing for Vizag city.
A few sanitary workers complained of their meagre wages and delay in the promised hikes, while some pointed to the limited supplies of brooms and other sanitation material. Otherwise, they are content with their work and their contribution to the city.
The GVMC recently felicitated the sanitary workers after Vizag was announced as the 9th best city in the county in terms of cleanliness in Swachh Survekshan-2021. In a gesture of respect, the city mayor bowed to the feet of a sanitary worker during the felicitation ceremony.
Speaking to ToI, GVMC mayor G Hari Venkata Kumari said that these workers played a crucial role in the city getting the 9th rank in SS-2021. “During the interaction with them, they have raised some issues regarding their wages and sanitation supplies. We will address all these problems,” said Venkata Kumari.
GVMC commissioner G Lakshmisha said the visit gave a peek into the night-time sanitation activities. “The visit is to encourage the efforts of the night-time workers,” said Lakshmisha.
