KOCHI: The Corporation authorities , in a bid to keep Kochi clean, persist with public awareness programmes, poster campaigns, ‘clean city’ drives, etc, which, more often than not, fail to yield any result owing to various reasons, mostly due to the lack of commitment on behalf of employees. But C K Rajappan, who died of cancer, was a dedicated corporation employee, who along with his friends walked through the streets to make sure that the work was implemented without fail. But, sadly, most people are unaware of the amount of work that goes into maintaining the city clean, and even the authorities don’t acknowledge their efforts. For the past 23 years, he struggled his way through stinking drains and mosquito-ridden garbage dumps, until cancer dampened his spirits and, finally, took away his life. But, unfortunately, in spite of serving the corporation for more than two decades, the rule books of the Kochi Corporation has no law in place that can aid his debt-ridden family.“I’m left with two daughters and a debt of Rs 5 lakh. I have nowhere to go. After working for the Corporation’s health department for 23 years, we don’t even get the medical aid to buy a headache pill,” said T M Sumathi, Rajappan’s wife, after presenting her case at the Kochi Corporation’s Mega Adalat.As irony could have it, in the latest seniority list prepared by the corporation, her husband’s name has been pushed up into the list of permanent employees. This would mean that unlike a CLR or DLR worker, he would get all the benefits of a permanent staff. “DLR and CLR workers are often paid lesser than those employed under private contractors. “But many still enrol for the work hoping that they would get a permanent job in the future. But many a time people with some political backing are enrolled and bypass genuine workers in getting the permanent position,” said a former member of the Kochi Corporation’s Town Planning Committee. The seniority list in itself has been mired in controversies for years now. “A list was prepared way back in 2005. But it could not be put into action since many unions and concerned parties alleged that it failed to include the deserving candidates. “There were numerous court cases, tribunals and Adalats until it was finalised a few months back,” said Corporation Secretary Ajith Patil.
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