Meet the best street cleaners in UAE

1.1928752-659875750 — Winners of Unsung Heroes Awards Image Credit: Supplied

Dubai: There are hundreds of unsung heroes who keep the streets of UAE clean and tidy. On Sunday, the best of their lot from four emirates were rewarded for their hard work which often goes unrecognised.

A total of 13 street cleaning and waste management workers from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah were honoured in front of the representatives of the leading cleaning companies in the region that have introduced various automated technologies that are taking over human work in the cleaning sector.

The cleaners, nominated by the respective municipalities and waste management authorities, were all smiles when they received the ceremonial cheque of Dh1,500 each and a certificate of appreciation at the fourth Middle East Cleaning Technology Week (MECTW).

“It is a very important day in my life,” one of the award winners, Naveed Hussain from Pakistan, told Gulf News.

“I’m extremely happy about it and I will make good use of the money. But I want people to think about our hard work that goes behind cleaning the street when they litter. They must remember that we work for the health and environment of the country which is now your home,” the 26-year-old who has been working in Sharjah for four years said.

Among the awardees, Kozhikkaramattil Mohammad Kutty, an Indian street cleaner in Dubai, stood out since it was the sixth time he was being recognised for his dedicated work.

Kutty has previously won five awards from Dubai Municipality’s Waste Management Department. “Once it was only a certificate. Later on I got Dh300 every time I won the award. But this time, it is a large amount and it came through when I am going through a cash crunch.” said a jubilant Kutty, who is content with his current salary of Dh1,800.

“My father and brother had a bike accident in Kerala two weeks back. I was sad I couldn’t send them any money. Now I can send this money.”

Kutty, 45, has been working as a street cleaner in Dubai for 15 years and has been assigned to Abu Hail area for 12 years. “My foremen are very happy with my work, the way I maintain cleanliness and safety. Whenever they come for inspections I can be seen working. There has been not a single complaint against me.”

For Mohammad Arif from Rajasthan, another Indian cleaner from Bee’ah in Sharjah, the whole ceremony was a big surprise. “Nobody told me this is the actual programme. I was told I will be taken to Dubai to attend a meeting. After I reached here I heard I was selected for an award because I did good work,” he said.

“I was surprised. I am happy that this prize is more than my salary which is Dh1,300. This is a big recognition for me. I hope this will help me get some promotion.”

“I had no money when I came back from vacation on the 8th. My father is sick and I want to send this money home,” said Arif.

Jayaraman Nair, chairman of VIS Exhibition - organisers of MECTW, said the Unsung City Cleaning Heroes Award that was launched for Dubai cleaners was this time expanded to four emirates.

“Being a cleaning show, MECTW aims to recognise the hard work and dedication of staff in the cleaning sector, who do the actual work and strive to make the emirates one of the cleanest and sustainable cities in the world. We wish to make this award a pan-emirates recognition for the city cleaning staff.”