Sanitation Worker, 6th Cross, Malleswaram

A Family Tradition, A Different Dream

My name is P. Gayathri. I work as a pourakarmika in Malleswaram and live on 8th Cross. I have been doing this job for around 13 years, so I have a lot of experience working in this area.

My mother and father were both in the same line of work. They did it, and now I am doing it. I do this job simply because it is my duty. Whatever work is given to me, I have to do it. There is no job that you will love to do; you have to work hard.

My only wish is that my children don't have to carry it further and do the same job. I like the work, and it doesn't concern me, but I want them to do other things. I have one son who studies in 10th grade at Vidya Mandir on 11th Main. My husband works at "Namma Clinic" near Sankey Tank as a housekeeper. We are both in government service.

Working with Joy

I do this work happily—I like it. I come to work with a happy attitude, interact and speak to everyone with the same mood, and try to keep this mindset all the time.

I work on the main road, and no one speaks rudely to me or looks at my work cheaply. Everyone looks at us with respect. They don't look at us as mere workers—they treat us well. I go to other parts of this area also, and we are treated well everywhere.

One Simple Expectation

In terms of what I expect from the people, it isn't much, but I find that the housemaids litter the street. They should not do that. We go to every house and ring the doorbell, and the autos go to each home to collect the waste. There is a lot of cleanliness here, but if they stop throwing waste on the roads, it will be even cleaner. This is my only expectation. They are also hardworking like us, but they should follow this one thing. I haven't seen the public or residents littering much; it is mostly the housemaids.

Why We Chose Malleswaram

I like everything about Malleswaram—the people, temples, the atmosphere, and this area. Everyone is disciplined, decent, and respectful. You can learn a lot from this place. My family and I moved here because I wanted my son to be in this environment and learn this behavior. I can't compare it to any other place because to me, Malleswaram is the best.