Municipal workers sweeping streets and lifting garbage need to be treated courteously and with respect by the local residents, Founder Chairperson of Blue Cross Hyderabad, Amala Akkineni said here on Wednesday.
Speaking at ‘Earth Day 2015’ organised by the city-based NGO Sukuki Exnora, she objected to the ill-treatment meted out to the municipal workers and ‘subraks’ and said residents need to give up their offensive attitude towards them. “They keep your environs clean. Please offer them a cup of tea or drinking water at least”, she said.
Amala Akkineni, who has been appointed as one of the Swachh Bharat Ambassadors and has been taking up various initiatives towards sanitation in different parts of the city including Motinagar and Malkajgiri, said that she noticed a discriminatory attitude among communities during her visits. “The garbage on the street could be cleared but this garbage of human mind (discrimination) is hard to clean,” she quipped.
The film actress-turned-animal right activist also called upon the State Government to set up a separate Swachh Bharat cell which could be easily approached by the citizens.
In his address, M.C. Pargaien, Special Secretary, Environment & Forests, stressed on the need for a drastic reduction in the usage of plastic as handling plastic waste was turning out to be a major issue for the cities.
The ‘subraks’ were handed over uniforms and gloves and Clean India posters were also released at the function.
