The hands of a 40-year-old solid waste collector Mallesh looks swollen because of wounds sustained while loading solid waste into the truck. “Of course, it pains. But I cannot afford to miss any day. We have to endure it,” says Mr. Mallesh. He was among a group of 10 persons from a thanda at Huvinahadagali taluk of Bellary district who have been working in the city for the last two months.
The condition of 32-year-old Rajesh, who ran away from his house in a village near Hubli, is not different. “Lifting wet solid waste takes a heavy toll on the body. It aches a lot and stays throughout the night. I find it difficult to get up in the morning and proceed to work. But I continue with work every day, keeping aside the problem,” he says.
Nearly 100 solid waste collectors and sweepers came to the Kendra around noon.
