A day in the life of a pourakarmika

THE LIVES WE DON'T KNOW

My name is Nagadevi and I am 40 years old. I work as a contractual sweeper with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and live with my family in Banashankari. My husband Nagraj, aged 43 years, is an autorickshaw driver and we have two daughters who study in a government school in classes 6th and 9th.

I start my day early at 4.30 am. I quickly prepare the meals for my family, while my husband attends to the kids. We then leave for our home by 6, my husband drops me at my workplace - Bangalore One office in Jayanagar. I gather my cleaning equipment consisting of a broom and a collector, I also wear my uniform and safety gear before I sweep the streets near to the Bangalore One Office and surrounding areas.

I collect the waste and dump it in the collection unit. I grab a hearty lunch with my friends Radha and Reshma. I earn a salary of Rs 16,000 and on the days I take leave my salary gets cut. My husband and I work all day. Tuesdays and Saturdays are half a day's job and a day for the family to spend some time together.

My girls make me very proud, we want them to be educated, get employed and earn a decent income that covers their and our basic needs. My daughter shows a keen interest in sports and we look forward to collecting the funds for the same considering her progress over the years in athletics.

Through my salary, I am able to support the family, but my husband's earnings are fluctuating. My family hails from Coorg and we visit our hometown at least once a year, mostly during festivals. Before Covid, I was working as a house help, but due to the lockdown and homeowners not needing my services, I applied as a contractual worker with the BBMP. My work now ends in the evening at 5 pm. I get picked up by my husband and prepare dinner for my family.

My daughters finish their homework and prepare for their classes while I cook. Nagraj and myself are illiterate, but my daughters have made us neo-literate. We have a meal together at 8 pm. My husband leaves for late-night auto rounds and comes only in the morning.

On the days we experience a shortage of money, my daughters help me with managing the house, they clean up and even cook. Our medical expenses are covered as we have registered with Victoria Hospital. We also have Below Poverty Cards and voter ids.         (As told to Vasudha Zora)