Home   News   India 56

Monu Singh, 19
Sweeper, deputy prime minister's office, North Block





Photo: Recreated imaging

Tell us your dreams for India


August 20, 2003

'The poor don't nurture dreams'

I have been sweeping the first floor of the ministry of home affairs for the last two years. I got a huge increment of Rs 200 so I switched jobs.

I live in a notorious area. Our locality is such that people shed blood even over children's fights.

I started doing cleaning jobs at 13. Since then I have been a sweeper.

I will remain a sweeper for the rest of my life. I don't have a permanent job and don't have any chance to get one. I can't write and can just about read Hindi with much difficulty. How can I have a future? In India only literate people have a future.

Life is alright. I work hard, earn, eat and sleep. What else do you want? Here in North Block, I am a temporary sweeper. My security pass is renewed every month.

In many shifts, I clean Advaniji's lobby and offices around his room. When we see him we say namaste. He responds, but security guards never allow us to speak to him. His room has a carpet that is cleaned by the permanent staff. Temps are not allowed into his room.

I have heard about 15th August. It's a festival, right?

I don't know even what's good about India. I like my friends. That's all. I have inscribed my friend Salman's name on my wrist, he was my best buddy. Tragedy struck when he died in a road accident.


India 56, Archives

 Email this page to a friend
We sweep North Block where powerful people work. Our own power is our capacity to work hard! The poor don't nurture dreams.

As told to Sheela Bhatt

(When Monu was talking to rediff.com, a clerk overheard him. He yelled at him for wasting time. Monu could risk anything but his job. He ran away without allowing photographer Sondeep Shankar to shoot his picture.)

   
'Our greatest problem are our politicians'

Tell us what you think of this Independence Day Special
 Email this page to a friend



HOME   
   NEWS   
   BUSINESS   
   CRICKET   
   MOVIES   
   SPORTS   
   NET GUIDE   
   SHOPPING   
   BLOGS  
   ASTROLOGY  
   MATCHMAKER  
Copyright © 2003 rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Union Bank of India Union Bank of India