MARGAO
When the Covid-19 pandemic raised its ugly head in the commercial capital last year, Margao Municipal Council garbage workers led from the front to keep the city clean.
There was not a single day when waste was left unattended despite the Covid scare prevailing everywhere, with the workers diligently performing their duties, with or without gloves, face masks and footwear.
Contract workers, engaged by contractors for door-to-door waste collection, too ensured that garbage collection from the households did not stop when migrants were making a beeline to head to their native states.
With the government finally deciding to roll out the Covid vaccination exercise during the weekend, the corridors of the MMC building played host to hectic activity. Reason: With the government designating the garbage workers as frontline Covid warriors, they have been requested to give their details for the Covid vaccine after the health workers are inoculated.
As of Tuesday, around 140 names of MMC garbage workers have been compiled and their details fed in the system by the Margao municipality. The data will be sent to the office of the Director of Municipal Administration.
MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes said the process of compiling the names and details of the garbage workers has started in the civic body. “We have received a communique from the government to get the details of the workers employed for the collection and handling of waste. The details of the workers are being fed in the system before these are forwarded to the government for further action,” he said.
Sanitary inspector Viraj Arabekar said that the municipal office has already recorded the details of around 140 garbage workers. “We have around 180 garbage workers employed by the civic body. In addition, there are contract workers employed for door-to-door waste collection,” he said.
Presently, the MMC has only noted the details of the garbage workers, with officials in the know saying the civic body will seek clarification from the government whether the door-to-door waste collectors will also fit in the scheme of things.
