The hartal in the Central Market here on Wednesday was unlike any other. It was not called by any political party or organisation, but the merchants in the market and the Kozhikode Corporation, only to clean up the place. Suchitwa Hartal, as it was called, was a first of its kind initiative in the 112-year history of the market, the busiest commercial place of the city.
All the shops in the market remained closed on the day while around 400 volunteers, including merchants, labourers representing various trade unions, customers and local people, with the support of the Kozhikode Town Janamaitri Police, Kozhikode Corporation, the sanitation workers in the market and the Fire and Rescue Services personnel cleaned up the premises of the market thoroughly. The drains were cleared of all blocks.
Among the waste removed from the market were around 12 tonnes of biodegradable waste and 200 bags of non-biodegradable waste. Some of these waste substances were lying around in the market for years. Corporation Health Officer R.S. Gopakumar said the objective of the hartal was to change the general unhygienic condition of the market to ensure better working environment for the people there. It is also part of an effort to rid the market of child labour and to convert it into the first child-friendly market in the State.
The programme was inaugurated by Mayor Thottathil Raveendran while District Collector S. Sambasiva Rao presided over it.
