Maharashtra: ‘Swachhta’ Workers Risk Lives Without Equipment, Allegedly Threatened to Come to Work

Meet Parvati Limbale, a 45-year-old clean-up contract worker of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The Maharashtra government has announced a complete shutdown of Mumbai city till March 31, excluding essential services, due to fears around the coronavirus. Parvati’s job is the kind of work marked ‘essential services’. When asked if she is being provided for as she risks her life in the times of a pandemic, she has a simple answer: No.

“I have my old gloves, jacket and a cap. What else? I heard about this virus due to which many offices are closed. But, I haven't got any special equipment from the Government to protect myself,” said Parvati. Her community of cleaning workers was once applauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'Swachhata Doot'. But, the 'doot' (ambassador) is ill-equipped to fight a disease while risking their lives on duty.

There are eight thousand cleaning workers in Mumbai city alone. There are thousands of such workers across Maharashtra. However, there is no attention being paid to their safety.

Thane's municipal clean-up contract workers are even worse off. They do not have hand gloves and masks. The contract workers have been asked to come to work if they were looking for their March salary. Kiran Dhote told NewsClick that he was aware of the coronavirus but that his “contractor has threatened us. He told that if we failed to turn up then he will sack us from work."

These workers have not even been provided with either sanitisers, masks or even gloves. “They never give them to us, but this time it is serious. We are demanding these things but don't know if we will be heard,” said Subhash Ingale, another worker in Thane.

While the plight of contract workers is distressing, those with the BMC do not have it any better. Mahesh Parave is a 27-year-old worker in the M (west) ward of BMC. He is not provided with shoes, mask, gloves or sanitisers. “Nobody has even come to us. There has been an announcement of keeping offices closed till March 31. That is not for us. We don't even know if anyone thinks about us, or our plight,” he added.

The workers provide the most essential services but they are hardly acknowledged, let alone looked after. Being mentioned in the PM’s speech does not translate to anything.

“There should have been proper training for these workers about how to use masks, how to sanitise hands after work and how to their masks and gloves. Forget that, they are not even given these things. If we want the society to be clean, we will have to look after the people who keep it clean,” said Milind Ranade, leader of Kachara Vahtuk Shramik Sangh, a registered union of clean-up workers of Maharashtra.

NewsClick tried to get a response from Thane’s Mayor, Naresh Mhaske, in response to the workers allegations about their contractor threatening them to come to work. However, there was none.

Maharashtra Municipal Kamgar Union has also requested the state government and municipal administration to immediately look into the serious needs of the workers. Mumbai or Thane are the richest municipalities in Maharashtra. But, the people who keep these cities clean are among their poorest, and most voiceless.