An epitome of sincerity & hard work

DMC sweeper without absence from work for last 21 years 

Morung Express Feature 
Dimapur| October 2 

21 years of dedicated service; not a single day of absence from work and 15 more years of zeal remaining, Rankumar is an epitome of sincerity and hard work. An employee of the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), Rajkumar is probably the only public servant in Nagaland who has the distinction of not being absent for a single day of work since he joined service 21 years ago. 

Ethnically a south Indian, Rajkumar’s parents migrated from Burma to India and settled in Dimapur in the early 1970’s. He was born and raised in Dimapur.  He joined the then Dimapur Town Committee at the age of 15 as a sweeper where he started work for a measly salary of Rs.500 per month. 

Narrating the initial years of his service, Rajkumar said the civic body had only one tractor and working conditions were hard. He said sweepers would spend hours shoveling garbage off the road into handcarts. Since there were no dustbins inside colonies and or on the pavements, cleaning the town was an arduous task. These days with the addition of modern machineries like tractors and cesspool tankers, manual work has decreased, he said. Surprisingly, he added that Dimapur is much cleaner now than it used to be as people have become more aware about cleanliness. 

For 21 years, Rajkumar has not been absent from work a single day. He has the office record to prove it. Miraculously, he has never taken ill even once. “It is only by the grace of God,” he says, adding he does have headaches sometimes but that doesn’t stop him from going to work. He starts his day at 5 am everyday and returns home by noon. He spends the rest of the day with friends and family. 

Even after cleaning the city’s dirt for over two decades, Rajkumar still has the spirit to do more. He said there’s nothing embarrassing or low about being a sweeper. “A man needs a roof above his head, food to eat and money to educate his children …I can afford all so why should I complain,” he says. Rajkumar’s dedication and hard work has won him accolades from his superior as well. DMC Advisory Board member in-charge of sanitation, Lepshi Ao said “Rajkumar is very sincere and disciplined.” 

Rajkumar was also awarded a medal of honour by Rotary Club Dimapur for his dedication and sincerity towards work and service to the people of Dimapur. Talking about his accomplishment, Rajkumar said that he feels a sense of pride after receiving the award. He never expected honour for a sweeper’s job, he says. Nevertheless, it has made him realise that no job is too small as long as one does it with passion and dedication. It has pushed him to work better and harder with his head held high.  He was recommended for the award by the DMC solely on merit. 

Today, with a salary of Rs.9, 500 per month, two children studying in school, a trophy displayed at home and appreciation for his hard work, Rajkumar is a contended man.  His only disappointment: when Naga people will learn?  “How long will Nagas depend on people like us? Jobs are running out and one day they too will have to pick up the spade.”