Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad   

`Big' boost for them

Dennis Marcus Mathew

FM channel's gesture lifts MCH sweepers' spirits

UNBOUNDED JOY: MCH sweeper Yadamma is a picture of happiness on being handed out gifts by the `Big 92.7 FM' radio team in Hyderabad on Thursday on the occasion of the International Women's Day. - Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: Laughing, cracking jokes at each other and whispering in each other's ears, these bunch of women looked like they were in the right spirits to celebrate the International Women's Day.

But when Lakhsmamma, who has been keeping Azampura and its surroundings clean for more than two decades, came on stage to receive her gift from BIG 92.7 FM Station Head Ashwin Padmanabhan, she revealed that it was the first time that she had ever heard about Women's Day.

It was no different with Aandalu (Circle I), Sukkamma (Circle VI), Swaroopa Rani (Circle III) or any of the 10 women sweepers of MCH who were honoured on Thursday by the FM channel for their unsung services to the city.

None of them had heard about the day earlier. And for all of them, it was for the first time that someone was honouring what they did diligently every day.

Like Lakshmamma (Circle V), Saroja (Circle VII) has been working as a MCH sweeper in the old city's Aliabad locality for over 25 years. "It has been the same routine all these days. Sweep the streets till noon and if you are on night shift, till sunrise. Then head back home, take a bath, and cook for the family. Nowadays, TV is there, so we watch a few serials as well."

For them, Thursday's gesture by the channel was a welcome break from the thankless job that they do. Like the anchor said, without these women, the city would be a dull, dirty place to live in. And it's they who play a part in making you feel fresh right from the morning.

Devamma (Circle IV), Yellamma (Circle V), Madhamma (Circle II), P. Shantha (Circle IV) and Sailamma (Circle I), the rest of the group who were honoured with saris, a bag of goodies, sipper bottles and caps to help during summer, would agree.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

YSR scores with a straight bat
Gurukul lands: TDP keeps issue on boil
Women told to hone managerial skills
Foreign students take orientation at Osmania University
State to rein in traffickers
No rejection of nominations on basis of circular: court
IT hub to get sewage treatment plants
Underground cabling begins at Laad Bazar
`Big' boost for them
`Educational reforms in India have global impact'
TDP, TRS point out lapses
Women told to tap their managerial skills
Police rescue woman from brothel in Uppal
Opt for commerce, poor students told
YSR offers to crack down on belt shops
Javed Akhtar for session on films
Special honour for conductor
No information on Pune horse trader: IT official
Big boost for woman, child welfare budget
Rs. 3,500 cr. DWCRA loans by month-end
Power shutdown
State Tourism Board's stall set to be a big draw at world fair
Vote according to conscience: KCR
Jayasudha takes the toast
Council poll process to end by March 29
Return of `item girl'
Gang involved in stealing laptops busted
Mary resents police `apathy'
SCB demolishes illegal units
Give up MP post, Eranna tells APCC chief
Tourism Plaza: decision on private partner soon
Unseen kidnapper
To beat the heat
`Dream home' from Samsung
Inter exam: 148 students booked
Around The City
In Hyderabad Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu