Sanitation Worker, 8th Main, Malleswaram 

A Decade of Service

My name is Shanti. I have been working as a sanitation worker for the past 10 years. I live close by, but I'm sent to work in Mathikere, and it is difficult for me to walk there. Compared to Malleswaram, there is more garbage to collect there. I go to Mathikere only for 3 hours, from 7 am to 10 am, after which I come back to Malleswaram. Compared to earlier, things are much better now. Earlier, we had to remove a lot of mud along with garbage.

The Waste Problem

Here, in Malleswaram, people throw the garbage near the trees because they don't want the smell in their houses. There is nothing we can do. This is something they should be aware of; we cannot be responsible for always explaining it to them.

All Kinds of People

Regardless, the people are generally good—they don't differentiate between us and themselves. We find all kinds of people. Those who are richer or better educated throw their waste in the garbage bin. Others throw it everywhere—they spit and dirty the environment. There is no difference between this place and other places in this aspect. Those who indulge in such habits will do it everywhere. I don't expect anything else from people other than that they should keep their areas clean.