#SareesByNight

#SareesByNight has been a Daan Utsav – Joy of Giving Week activity since 2015. In its 4th year now, me and my online handloom group members of Kai Thari Karigar and like-minded friends spread smiles on the faces of the city’s conservancy/sanitation workers. A.K.A. the women, who comprise 95% of the workforce, and men who sweep the city’s streets at night, while we sleep in the comfort of our homes. They give up their safety, their sleep, their family, their health to keep our roads clean. Their work is done silently, in the dead of night, every single night. Nobody acknowledges them or appreciates them. But if they do not pick up the garbage on our streets for even two days in a row, we will complain that the Government and the Corporation is not doing its job! We will not pick up our own garbage ourselves, but will blame the people who do not clean it. Yet, the fact that they do, is never noticed, much less acknowledged, and never ever appreciated. #SareesByNight is our small way of saying THANK YOU to them for what they do. We gift them a saree/dhoti, some useful items for the home, and some food, all in a goodie bag – recyclable cloth bags. We have distributed nearly 800 bags in the past 3 years, which means to 800 people. We drive by and stop when we spot them, offer them the surprise gift and watch the smiles spread across their pleasantly surprised faces! It brings us much happiness ! ? All updates are posted on the Kai Thari Karigar Facebook page.