2 days ago
From brooms to boots: Sanitation workers gear up for I-Day parade
Belagavi: During national festivals like Independence Day, it is common to see police personnel and school and college students participating in parades. However, this year, sanitation workers in Belagavi are all set to take part in the Independence Day parade, a first for the City currently employs 339 permanent sanitation workers, 280 under the direct salary scheme, and 1,058 on a contract basis. These workers begin their day before sunrise, diligently cleaning the City streets. Out of this workforce, 33 sanitation workers, including 12 women, have been selected to participate in the ceremonial Independence Day celebration will begin at 7:30 am on August 15 at the Belagavi City Corporation premises. A district-level celebration will follow at 9:00 am at the District Sports Ground, where the sanitation workers will also march in the the first time, these sanitation workers are preparing for the parade with great enthusiasm. Over the past eight days, they have been practicing regularly at the District Sports Ground, balancing it with their daily work duties. During rainy days, the practice sessions have been held inside the City Corporation to DH, Belagavi City Corporation Environment Department Assistant Executive Engineer Hanamant Kaladagi said, 'We have provided the sanitation workers with complete training on how to march in a parade. We even brought in army personnel and police officers to guide them.' 'Until now, we only knew cleaning work. We used to participate in the annual sports meets, but getting selected for the parade has filled us with excitement and pride,' said Anand Pipare, one of the selected sanitation workers, expressing his City Corporation Commissioner B Shubha said, 'Sanitation workers are not limited to cleaning work alone. We made this decision to show that they too are an integral part of society and to nurture a sense of patriotism in them."
