The Dignity of the Sanitary Worker

It is all about respect. For a society to create clean public spaces the workers involved in keeping the spaces clean have to be respected. In India we very often do not do that.We use derogatory terms to refer to them. Society looks down upon them, devalues and ill-treats them. We pay them very little. We do not provide the proper equipment and do not care for their safety or well-being.The minute an outsider mentions the caste system we tend to get our tails up, but the sad truth is that the most discriminated "castes" end up doing the cleaning. We consider their work menial. Most so called middle and upper class Indians do not consider these people human at all, but will preach about human rights to the rest of the world to no end.

Things are different in other more egalitarian societies. Although, educated, well to do segments of a society may not want to do work such as garbage collecting, sweeping, cleaning toilets etc., they do not neceessarily disrepect the workers who do those jobs. At least in public they would not dare insult a sanitary worker or devalue their work. They make an effort to appreciate their work. In many of these countries poor, uneducated and immigrant groups predominate in these jobs, but they are treated with some degree of respect and paid well. For example, in many upper crust schools in the West, the janitor or custodian who is responsble for keeping the premises clean by cleaning the toilets etc., is referred to as Mr. So and So and the students are taught to respect him. In many cities around the world the garbage collector is paid very well, often times well above the minimum wage. We need to learn from these societies.

In order to create a cleaning work force that is dedicated and takes pride in their work, we need to do the following:

1. Pay adequate wages

If society values cleanliness, it should properly remunerate the workers who keep the public spaces clean. After all, they do work that is essential, but which others in society refuse to do. They should not be allowed to descend into abject poverty. If they do not feel rewarded, how could we expect them to do a good job? A recent study in Bangalore found that many sanitary workers do not have access to toilets and practice open defecation and urination. If that were the case, how could you expect them to honestly clean the public spaces, for the middle and upper classes to go for their morning jog?  These workers have to be adequately compensated so thet they can have a decent standard of living.

2. Society has to eliminate litter, dumping, spitting, public urination etc

If the majority do not clean up after themselves or add to the uncleanliness, no amount of cleaning by sanitary workers is going to be enough to keep the place clean. Society has to do its part to minimize the work of the sanitary worker. The work has to be acceptable. It boils down to respect for a fellow human being.

3. Respect the sanitary worker

The dignity of the sanitary worker has to respected and protected at all times. People should not be allowed to insult or demean them.Their work should be appreciated. Society should treat them with respect and kindness. A society's maturity and its refinement should be judged by how it treats these workers.

4. Enact protective legislation

The laws should protect these workers from exploitation. Their compensation, work loads, working conditions and safety should be protected by law. It is the mark of a cilvilized society to legally protect them.

5. Ensure their safety

The employers, be they  the local government body or private concerns, should ensure the safety of the worker.  Proper safety gear should be provided. Gloves, masks etc that meet the standards should be provided. The health and well being of these workers shoiuld be paramount. They should be protected from unruly vehicular traffic.

6. Proper equipment and training should be provided

The work force should be provided with the proper tools and skills to to their job right. Mechanisation should be implemented where feasible. Their work should be made bearable and pleasant. Sanitary work does not necessarily have to be unsanitary, if done the proper way.

If we do this right, we will create a set of workers who will be proud of what they do, feel appreciated by society and feel adequately rewarded, that they will strive to create a clean environment that will benefit us all.

So the next time you come into contact with a sanitary worker, be thankful for what they do and be appreciative. By doing so, you are contributing to the well being of this country and are being patriotic.