Kachra KIondi documentary on Pune's sanitary workers screened

In this high-tech age, it is ironical that a municipal sanitary worker in Pune has to still step into overflowing sewers (down manholes) without an oxygen mask and go underwater in contaminated sewage to remove debris with has bare hands! Two workers perished a few years ago due to extreme asphyxiation. The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) garbage staff has to clear overflowing garbage containers, which could contain anything from rotting food to used sanitary napkins and dead animals, with their bare hands. PMC’s women street sweepers have to sweep human excreta every day, come rain or shine, and the PMC sanitary staff has to dispose of unclaimed bodies from the general hospital morgue.

All this is and more has been captured on ‘Kachra Kondi’ (Garbage Jam), the latest documentary film made by Pune-based theatre director, Atul Pethe. The 55-minute film, produced by the PMC Workers’ Union on a shoe string budget had its first, free public viewing at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) auditorium on July 1. The film tries to look at the lives of conservancy staff including sweepers, garbage lifters, toilet cleaners and people who dispose unclaimed bodies.

In ‘Kachra Kondi’, Pethe, who shot and directed the film himself, brings us face to face with the PMC sanitary workers and their tough working lives, be it in the choked sewers, dirty toilets or overflowing garbage bins. In the film, the PMC garbage truck drivers complain about the poor condition of their trucks which, according to them, have faulty brakes, engine problems and breakdowns resulting in accidents. And, even though the PMC commissioner states on camera that the sanitary staff is entitled to a ration of gumboots, gloves, soaps and rainwear, the situation on the ground is very different. “All these provisions are on paper. We have not been issued any of this equipment,” a worker laments.

Explaining the aim behind producing the film, Mukta Manohar, general secretary, PMC Workers Union says, “We wanted to share with society the sheer drudgery experienced by sanitary workers every day, We hope the film is viewed enthusiastically and the resultant debate will help improve the lives of the sanitary worker,” Says Manohar, “I appeal to Punekars to segregate their wet and dry garbage, compost the wet garbage and say no to plastic. This will make the lives of the sanitary workers easier.”

There are at present 8,000 conservancy staff under the PMC Employee’s Union while over 5,000 people work in the unorganisd sector and are hired by contractors. Said Atul Pethe, director and producer of the film “This is a section that is always neglected by the society. They are termed as uncivilised only because they dispose the garbage generated by the civilised society”.

Courtesy: Maharashtra Herald, TOI and Indian Express Pune

PS! A copy of the film can be ordered from Atul Pethe atul_pethe@hotmail.com or you may borrow my copy for viewing