Kerala - Kochi   

Government indebted to cleaners, says Sarma

Photo: H. Vibhu

Lauding their efforts: Minister for Fisheries S. Sarma speaking at a function organised on Friday to honour the cleaners in the city. —

KOCHI: The city is the face of development of the State and the Government is indebted to those who participated in the cleaning operations and garbage clearing drive, Minister for Fisheries S. Sarma has said.

The Minister was participating in a function organised here on Friday to honour the cleaners.

Mr. Sarma described the workers as heroes and added that they had risked their health to clear the garbage despite the health hazard posed during the clearing drive ordered by the District Collector, Mr. Sarma said.

The High Court, the Corporation, traders and citizens were all grateful to the workers and the Government would take up the welfare of the workers to express its gratitude, he said.

Mr. Sarma said the Government backed the Collector in carrying out the garbage clearing operation but did not belittle the authority of the local bodies. The local bodies had certain limitations in executing the task of clearing the garbage that had piled up in the city. The garbage had to be dumped outside the city.

Mr. Sarma launched the programme called ‘Reaching Out’ and an Onam kit each was given to the workers who participated in the operation. The function was organised by the Rotary Club of Cochin Knights in association with City Financials. Indira Rajan, director of Pragathy International Centre for Higher Education, gave the kit to Mayor Mercy Williams, who gave it away to three workers as a token.

A kit, a pair of rubber gloves and an Idea-SIM card each were given to the 1,300 cleaners. K.V. Thomas, MLA, inaugurated the distribution of rubber gloves by handing over a pair of gloves to District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish.

Physician Babu K. Mathews told the workers about the need to maintain hygiene during the garbage clearing operation. Rotary Club secretary Mathew Jose, president Essa Gaffar and State head of City Financial Rajiv Kaimal spoke on the occasion.

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