Baripada: At a time of several schemes for women empowerment, a woman seems to have found little respite from her burden in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
Adding to her strenuous work of cleaning the roads, the woman, identified as Laxmi Mukhi, a sanitation employee of a municipality, has been carrying her baby on the back for the last few days.
#WATCH | Odisha: A lady sweeper, Laxmi cleans the road in Mayurbhanj district with her baby tied to her back. pic.twitter.com/g7rs3YMlFn
— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2022
The matter came to light after the video of the woman’s daily work was released on social media by news agency ANI. The video shows the woman has her baby tied to her back like a backpack.
With the baby clutching to her, she cleans the road holding a long broom in Baripada Municipality of the district. But Laxmi does not feel any burden in carrying the baby and sweeping the roads at the same time. She said she has to carry her baby as there is nobody at home to look after the child.
“I have been working in Baripada Municipality for the last 10 years. I am alone in my home so I have to tie my child on my back and work. It is not a problem for me, it is my duty,” the news agency quoted her in a tweet.
Badal Mohanty, Chairman of Baripada Municipality, said Laxmi was doing it due to personal reasons.
“Laxmi Mukhi is our cleaning staff. Due to some personal issues, she carries her baby with her and performs her duties every day. I’ve instructed my officials to a watch on her needs, if there is any problem we will support her,” ANI quoted the chairman as saying in Twitter.
Laxmi Mukhi is our cleaning staff. Due to some personal issues, she carries her baby with her and performs her duties every day. I've instructed my officials to a watch on her needs, if there is any problem we will support her: Badal Mohanty, Chairman, Baripada Municipality pic.twitter.com/woqKrtMqLb
— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2022
