Kerala Judge Stages Unique Sit-In Protest Besides The Garbage Pile, Gets It Cleaned Within Hours

The Ernakulam vegetable market in Kochi was full of vegetable and sewage waste, that was lying there for more than ten days. After several complaints, the garbage kept on accumulating there till a 48-year-old sub-judge, A M Basheer on Friday, sat beside a massive pile of garbage until the trash got cleaned from the area.

Mr. Basheer, who is also the secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, stagged a unique sit-in protest on Thursday. He sat beside the pile of garbage for more than five hours and made sure that the garbage gets cleaned as early as possible.

“I was there to check the food and quality of the vegetables as I had received complains, that the traders are supplying poor quality of food and vegetables. But, when I, accompanied by five other officers reached there. I was shocked to see the condition of the place. The place filled with tons of vegetable and sewage waste, I don’t know how people can live like this,” said Basheer while talking to The Logical Indian.

Traders and workers told Basheer that the waste had not been collected for last ten days. The traders claimed that they had made several complaints to the local municipal authorities regarding the matter. However, the authorities denied receiving any complaints from the traders reports Times of India.

Despite the rain, undeterred officer Mr. Basheer and others decided to sit-in and not leave the place until it gets cleared. “If we would not have stayed there, then the garbage would have still been there. That is why we immediately called for the necessary help (truck and labor) and all the traders also corporate with us. It took few hours to collect the waste from the area,” he added.

To make sure of the regular garbage cleaning in the market, Mr. Basheer has formed a committee. The committee headed by M.R Rajendranan, Senior Advocate, also comprises of the traders and the resident of the area.

“There are schools nearby, the environment for the children and the residence is not healthy. That is why we formed the committee and included all the representatives,” told Basheer which speaking to The Logical Indian.

According to Mr. Basheer, an inspection will be conducted by the representatives of the committee every week. At the end of the month, there will be an ‘Adalat’,” to discuss the problems.

The sub-judge, who has gone there to inspect the traders also stressed massive concern about the food quality. He found out that the traders do not have the license for the shops functioning in the market.

“We will help the traders to get the license, and regarding the food quality, we have also taken the five samples from the shopkeepers. The food samples have gone for the forensic test after the reports will be out. We will take necessary action, told Basheer to The Logical Indian.

The Logical Indian appreciates Mr. Basheer for taking a unique way to tackle the issue. We also hope the newly formed committee sees to it that such incidents don’t repeat and the garbage menace is strictly controlled.