We also have a family to celebrate with: Pourakarmikas on festivals

Lakshamma, aged 57 , was seen swe e ping the roads near Tavarekere in BTM Layout early on Sunday, dealing with the remnants of Deepavali festivities. “The firecracker residue is more or less the same as last year,” she remarked. Yet, despite the visible remnants of celebration, Lakshamma felt distanced from the joy, as she was required to work to avoid pay cuts.

Similar stories emerged from other sanitation workers and street sweepers across the city, who came to work under the scorching sun, recounting the hardships they face during festival seasons. A worker near Jayanagar 4th Block, who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared the toll of juggling work and family responsibilities during the holidays. “Is it too much to ask for a day off on festival days, just like others?” she questioned. “We also have families waiting for us to come home and celebrate with them.” The challenges of working during festival times also took a toll on her health. “During Dasara, I had to clear countless plantain branches and large quantities of flowers.

I remember coming home feeling unwell, but for the sake of my two daughters, I kept going,” she explained. For many sanitation workers, these festivals mean extra hours and additional physical strain, with little opportunity to enjoy the holiday season themselves. Nirmala M, President of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Pourakarmika Sangha (the city’s union for sanitation workers), elaborated on the broader adversities faced by the city’s sweepers. “We have repeatedly appealed to the BBMP to allow our workers time off during major festivals, but the authorities argue that piling garbage would cause significant inconvenience to the public,” she stated. Nirmala further explained that the BBMP was presented a proposal to rotate shifts during Dasara and Deepavali, allowing half of the workforce to take a break while ensuring coverage. However, according to her, this plan was also rejected.

“Many of these workers face immense hardships,” she added. “For some, this job is their only source of income, even as they struggle with ongoing health issues.” For workers like Lakshamma and her colleagues, balancing their roles as breadwinners and carers remains a constant struggle, especially during times of celebration. The physical demands of their work, combined with limited leave options, underscore the difficulties faced by those who keep the city clean during both ordinary days and festive seasons.