Resident performs ‘pada puja’ for conservancy staff

Vasantha, a conservancy worker for the last 16 years, was moved by the noble gesture of Pushpa, 38, a resident of Ganapathy Nagar in Ward-14 of Palladam Municipality.

After performing the ‘pada puja’, she was also garlanded. “When people generally refuse to even see us as fellow human beings due to the nature of our work, I feel very honoured by the respect showered on me by the resident. It’s a great honour and recognition for me and our community of conservancy workers. From now on, I would work hard in our battle against COVID-19,” said Vasantha.

“I was caught totally unaware as to what the resident was doing. This is the first time I am going through such ritual and felt extremely nervous. I have no words to thank her gratitude,” she said.

“Despite the threat of COVID-19, she comes to our neighbourhood to collect garbage almost on a daily basis. I felt that they (conservancy staff) are doing a great service to humanity. Hence, I had an irresistible urge to honour people like her, who hail from the lower rung of the society, and paid my respect. I hope others too understand their role in the society and treat them with due dignity,” said Pushpa.

The video of the resident performing ‘pada puja’ and honouring the conservancy staff with garlands has gone viral on social media.