Dr. Satyavan Saurabh
A city isn’t defined by its tall buildings, wide roads, or dazzling lights, but by its cleanliness and orderliness. When a person enters a city, the first thing they notice is its cleanliness, environment, and civic discipline. Clean cities not only look beautiful, but also symbolize better health, a safe life, and a civilized society. But the people who contribute most to this cleanliness often remain outside of society’s attention and respect. These are our sanitation workers—the unseen, unheard, and neglected heroes, on whose labor the entire city’s order depends.
The recent strike by sanitation workers in various cities forced people to reflect on how quickly urban life can be disrupted if these workers stop working. Within days, streets were piled with garbage, drains clogged, stench spread, and the risk of disease increased. For the first time, people realized that the sanitation workers, whom they considered ordinary employees, were actually the heartbeat of the city.
The irony is that while we make tall claims about modernity and development, we still lag far behind in civic responsibility. A large number of people in our cities consider it normal to throw garbage in public places, leave plastic on the streets, and litter. Even those who maintain cleanliness within their homes consider their responsibility over by dumping their garbage on the streets. This is why, in the absence of sanitation workers, cities quickly turn into garbage heaps.
This situation is not only a testament to administrative weakness, but also to our weak civic sense. In developed countries, citizens are self-conscious about cleanliness. They consider throwing garbage on the streets a social crime. However, in our country, cleanliness is still considered the sole responsibility of sanitation workers and municipal corporations. Unless society itself embraces cleanliness as a part of its culture and habits, the success of any government campaign will remain incomplete.
The lives of sanitation workers are full of struggles. They start work early in the morning when most people are still asleep. They clean roads, streets, and drains in all conditions—scorching heat, harsh cold, rain, or epidemics. Often, they have to work in extremely unhygienic conditions without adequate safety equipment. Every year, many workers die from inhaling toxic gases while cleaning sewers. Yet, society does not give them the respect they truly deserve.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the entire country was confined to their homes, doctors, police officers, and sanitation workers risked their lives to keep society safe. People honored them with applause and thali banging, but over time, we have forgotten them again. Even today, many sanitation workers are forced to work in temporary jobs, with low wages and unsafe working conditions.
A large segment of society still looks down upon sanitation work. This mindset is not only wrong but also inhumane. No job is small or large. If sanitation workers stop working for a day, the entire city’s system could come to a standstill. Therefore, their work is not just a job, but a duty to protect public health and social life.
The most painful scene in this entire situation is when cows are seen searching for food in the garbage scattered on the streets. In Indian society, cows are given the status of mother, but the reality is that these same cows are forced to eat plastic, rotten food, and toxic waste. This scene exposes our social insensitivity. Devotion is not just demonstrated by words and slogans, but by action. If we truly consider the cow sacred, we must ensure that it is not forced to search for food in the garbage.
Today, the growing plastic problem in cities has exacerbated the situation. People use plastic thoughtlessly and then throw it away in the open. This plastic clogs drains, pollutes the environment, and poses a life-threatening threat to animals. Sanitation workers grapple with this filth daily, but the root of the problem lies in the negligence of citizens.
Governments periodically launch cleanliness campaigns. The “Clean India Mission” attempted to raise public awareness, but campaigns alone don’t bring about lasting change. Unless citizens take responsibility themselves, cleanliness will remain limited to government posters and slogans.
We must understand that cleanliness isn’t just the responsibility of the municipal corporation. It’s every citizen’s duty to maintain cleanliness around them. Segregating waste into different categories, using less plastic, avoiding littering in public places, and raising awareness among others—these small habits can bring about big changes.
Protecting the rights and dignity of sanitation workers is equally important. Providing them with fair wages, stable employment, healthcare, and safety equipment should be the government’s primary responsibility. Machines should be used more extensively in hazardous processes like sewer cleaning to avoid putting human lives at risk.
The education system also needs to incorporate practical aspects of cleanliness and civic responsibility. Teaching children about cleanliness in books alone won’t suffice; they must be inspired to practice it in practice. Only when the new generation makes cleanliness a habit will real change in society be possible.
The media and society should also highlight the problems and contributions of sanitation workers. People typically remember them only when there’s a strike or the city is filthy. However, their daily struggles, hard work, and contributions are rarely discussed. If society honors them, it will not only boost their self-confidence but also strengthen the collective consciousness about cleanliness.
We must also understand that cleanliness is not just a matter of aesthetics, but a question of health and civilization. Dirt breeds mosquitoes, flies, and many diseases. Unsanitary environments pose the greatest dangers to children, the elderly, and the poor. Therefore, the work of sanitation workers is directly linked to the health of society.
The need today is not just to end the sanitation workers’ strike, but to change our mindset. We must recognize that the responsibility for keeping cities clean cannot be placed solely on a few employees. Until citizens themselves become responsible, the problem of filth and disorder will persist.
Sanitation workers are truly the true heroes of our cities. They work every day to improve our lives without expecting any special recognition or fame. Their hard work keeps cities breathing, roads walkable, and communities healthy.
If we truly want to build a civilized, sensitive, and developed society, we must first change our attitude toward sanitation workers. Respecting them, understanding their problems, and making cleanliness our responsibility is true citizenship. This is the path that will make our cities not only sparkling, but also humane and cultured.
(Dr. Satyawan Saurabh, PhD (Political Science), is a poet and social thinker) |
