Sanitation workers in Sivaganga municipality, Tamil Nadu, have been instructed by a DMK councillor to switch from using whistles to employing microphones and speakers for public awareness messages during garbage collection. The move, initiated by Ward 21 councillor Ayub Khan, aims to enhance communication with residents and boost awareness about cleanliness by replacing traditional whistle alerts with informative announcements. This shift marks a departure from the long-standing practice of using whistles to signal waste collection in the area.
Khan’s decision to introduce microphones and speakers for sanitation workers was inspired by similar practices in larger cities like Chennai. By playing recorded cleanliness messages and songs instead of blowing whistles, the councillor hopes to promote hygiene, waste segregation, and neighborhood cleanliness effectively. He believes that this new method will not only engage residents more actively but also streamline the waste collection process in a more organized manner.
While some residents have raised speculations about the timing of this change, linking it to the election symbol of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, Khan has clarified that the decision is purely administrative. Denying any political motives, he emphasizes that the objective is to modernize sanitation practices and improve communication with the public. As a result, sanitation workers in Ward 21 have transitioned to using speakers instead of whistles, marking a noticeable shift in the daily routine of the town.
