Surat: “My brother has already gone and the family can complete the last rites without my presence. But I decided not to go because if I take leave, my work will be left undone especially when I am engaged in a crucial task of keeping the city clean.” This 43-year-old may be a cleaner attached with the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), but Nanduben Vadel’s sincerity towards her job is worth a million.
Not only she, but her husband Harish, too, works as cleaner (safai karmi) in SMC. The duo took a tough decision to skip the funeral as they felt taking a leave now, when their services are most required in the current times, was unjust. Nanduben is currently posted in Piplod ward office and has been regularly attending her duties even after the death in the family.
Nanduben, a resident of Ugat area, last had a talk with her elder brother Mahesh Chawda, 49, on March 31 over phone. He had called to check on her health. "My brother told me that I shouldn’t worry about him or others in the family and asked me to be very careful as I am involved in duty which may expose me to Covid-19 infection," said Nanduben, who was emotionally attached to Mahesh more than the other siblings.
But, on the very next day she received information that her brother, an employee in a courier firm, died from a heart attack. Nanduben and her husband were in a dilemma, but the call duty proved to be more stronger for the duo than familial obligation.
"Despite health problems Nanduben works till late at night with other staffmembers and never misses duty. She told me about her brother’s death and also that it was destined. She said that even if she doesn’t go nothing is going to change. I salute her tenacity of purpose and her integrity,” sadi Kailash Borse, sanitary inspector, SMC.
Not only she, but her husband Harish, too, works as cleaner (safai karmi) in SMC. The duo took a tough decision to skip the funeral as they felt taking a leave now, when their services are most required in the current times, was unjust. Nanduben is currently posted in Piplod ward office and has been regularly attending her duties even after the death in the family.
Nanduben, a resident of Ugat area, last had a talk with her elder brother Mahesh Chawda, 49, on March 31 over phone. He had called to check on her health. "My brother told me that I shouldn’t worry about him or others in the family and asked me to be very careful as I am involved in duty which may expose me to Covid-19 infection," said Nanduben, who was emotionally attached to Mahesh more than the other siblings.
But, on the very next day she received information that her brother, an employee in a courier firm, died from a heart attack. Nanduben and her husband were in a dilemma, but the call duty proved to be more stronger for the duo than familial obligation.
"Despite health problems Nanduben works till late at night with other staffmembers and never misses duty. She told me about her brother’s death and also that it was destined. She said that even if she doesn’t go nothing is going to change. I salute her tenacity of purpose and her integrity,” sadi Kailash Borse, sanitary inspector, SMC.
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