The Messed Up Tale of the BMC Workers

A prequel-Read this first

Having read the article in the Times , I learnt that the world is a very cruel place. These people have to earn their living by cleaning up our spoils and yet they have no support. Aren’t they human beings? Don't they have basic fundamental rights to hygiene and health care? And you'll be appalled to learn that these figures only apply to the permanent employees. The on-contract employees are not even considered in this fact-finding.

Most of the articles that Anuj and I went through show that it is the Dalits who are performing this great humanitarian service. But what are they getting in return? They get only death, disease and extreme humiliation from their fellow human beings. I am sure none of us can even imagine tasks like picking up filth from gutters, cleaning up the public toilets or sweeping the garbage of the streets. But these things have to be done. Have we ever given a thought to
actually who does them?

These conservancy workers do them. Because they have no other option. Maybe, they have no option, but the government sure does. They can provide them with better hygiene facilities and better equipment. Their healthcare options are the same as applicable to any other municipal employees. The consultation is free at municipal hospitals. But medication is almost unavailable since the civic stores are always out of stock and they cannot afford private chemists at
their meager salaries.

Sudharak Olwe has done a photo feature "In Search Of Dignity And Justice: The Untold Story Of Mumbai’s Conservancy Workers" and you can find it here.This photo essay has fetched him the award of National Geography Society’s 2005 All Roads Photography Program.

Maybe its time to stop harking after the Abhisheks and the Aishwaryas and pay more attention to serious issues like these. The Safai Kamgar Parivartan Sangh is a body representing the conservancy staff of the BMC. You can contact them at +91-22-24102694.

Hellloooo ppplll...

Anybody miss me...??

I have not posted in nearly a month.. but there was a lllooottt going on.. and I didnt have the time .. Sup, i'll give u a quick recap..

First it was the visit to Rajmundry.... Dat was 5 days on the train.. punctuated with something like 20 hours stop at the venue..

And when I came back, all hell seemed to have broken loose..projects, assignments etc.. It was terrible.. And then the end-sem finals. I've still to recover from them, but plenty of time.. Got a vacation of a whole month..

Celebrations have already started....I had a blast yesterday wid my friends..

Will keep posting more..

Cheers....

Hey there..

Sorry for changing the template again.. i like this one better... what say??

Its been a week...

since I made my last postin...isn't it?? but the thing is i've been feeling the blues. firstly this leg pain.. and then my scores.. i haven't done all that well in the 2nd mid-semester. I know they're not bad.. but they're not good either.. see.. i scored 62/80 in OS...(there was a 10 MARK calculation mistake.. thank god i saw it), in the C++ practical i got 18/25 ..which is also ok..what is really bad is the 19.5/31 in C++ theory.. i wish i hadn't made those stupid mistakes..

And now my scooter is delayed for one whole week.. I wish i would get it soon. Now it'll be available only when i am back from Rajamundry.. (where is that , did u say) .. Well, its in Andhra Pradesh and 36 hr train journey.. and Why, am i going there.. u ask? well, the reason i'll tell u when i come back..

till then..
ciao..

bbye..

signing off. .
pankti..

First day back at college..

and could it be anything but terrible..

The teachers were terrible.. my feet ached like hell and even the canteen food so horrible.. aaaggghhh... i m going crazy out here..

Theres just one glimmer of hope.. I might get my scooter.. if not in this sem..definitely by the next one..

You know, I would almost be glad if they threw me out on pretext of the provisional certificate..

You've got to watch this one..

Hey guys,

I just finished watching the movie Dor.. and it is one fantastic movie.. you've got to watch it guys.. something wonderful and inspiring.. its surprising that this movie has been made in India..

Above all, the message which it gives is soooooo good..

And you know wat I liked best.. it was the end, in which Ayesha Takia gathers up the courage to run away with her friend .. that one scene made the highlight of the movie... I suppose you don't know what I am talking about..

Just watch it.. Once....

Cheers,
Pankti..

Another lovely poem...

Hello everybody,

This is a lovely poem that came to me as a forward. Just read the poem, and I am sure... that all of us will identify with it sometime or the other..

Around the Corner A Vanished Friend

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.

And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.

And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner, yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

Snaps

Hello ppl,

I've signed up for a photo-sharing service (Flickr).. sup..you can now browse thru them... for now there r just a few snaps.. but i'll be uploading more soon... so keep checkin it out... (in the links section)..

cheers,
pankti...

Long time no post...

I know i've not posted in some time.. but here i am with the whole new look..

I've even added a video section...which i'll try to change every week.. how about it??

Sup...tell me, do u like this one or the previous one? Its just a change of template.. so I would really appreciate it if you would lemme know.. at least, I'd know somebody is going through it on a regular basis..

So...you ask me.. where was I?? and why haven't I posted in a long time??

The thing is, since the vacation was going on.. I was enjoying myself.. Now theres, just 3 more days left..

I celebrated diwali (check out the pooja video), made lots of visits (snaps coming up soon), and even saw Don..

Since i've not seen the previous Don, I found this one good..The suspense is really amazing..

I won't reveal it .. you should check it out for yourself.. its different even if you've seen the original one.. and the music is good too... Me being the bigda hua bachcha of the 21st century (shud I say 22nd?? ) .. i really liked the remixes better than the originals..

Right now ( as of rite this moment) I am trying to ignore the pathetic performance of the Indian team.. the score is 210/6 in 47.5 overs.. sheesh.. i just wish they wouldnt humiliate themselves in this way.. thats 213/7... i know i know.. i switched it off...

catch ya later..

bbye..

Change...

Hi guys,

I've updated to the new Blogger beta...and changed the template..

Please someone tell me howz it look.. just one comment.. plzzz...

Thanx...

Cheers,
Pankti.