If you walk through the streets of Shillong today, you cannot miss the difference—the cleaner roads, the fresher air, the sense of care in the city’s everyday spaces. But behind this visible transformation lies the invisible labour of hundreds of workers employed by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB)—people the Chief Minister himself has called the city’s “silent heroes.”
They sweep the streets at dawn, clear drains through the day, and keep the city moving long after most have gone home. It is work that many shy away from—work that demands grit more than recognition. As the saying goes, “Cleanliness is not just about appearance; it is a reflection of dignity and respect—for ourselves and for others.” In many ways, these workers embody that dignity every single day.
And yet, there is a harsh irony beneath this story.
For months now, many of these very workers—who keep Shillong clean—have not been paid.
Speaking to several sweepers reveals a quieter, more difficult reality. Most live in rented homes, depend entirely on daily wages, and support families back in their villages. Since December, their salaries have been withheld. When they approach contractors, they are told that funds have not been released by the government. Caught in this loop, they are left uncertain about who is responsible—and how long they must wait.
“We appeal to them to release our salaries. We are facing too many hardships,” one worker said, explaining that around 200 contractual workers are divided into groups covering areas like Laitumkhrah, Khyndailad, and Motphran.
A young worker shared, “We come from poor families. They give us very little just for food. We cannot survive like this.”
Another added, “I started working in April, but since December, I haven’t been paid. My parents keep asking me about my salary. Now I depend on them to feed me, even though I am working. It is very difficult.”
A young woman, who had once seen the job as a source of hope, said, “I was happy to support my family. Usually salaries are delayed a bit, but now it has been four months. Sometimes we don’t even have money for tea or water while working. We bring rice from home, but we cannot even afford fruit.”
Despite everything, they continue to show up—brooms in hand, under the sun, keeping the city clean.
Recently, the SMB expanded its workforce, hiring over 190 new contractual staff, including sweepers, drain cleaners, and river protection personnel. Alongside existing workers, they form a round-the-clock cleaning force, maintaining key areas like Motphran and Garikhana.
The Chief Minister, who once shared a meal with these workers during Christmas, praised their dedication and recalled seeing them at work late into the night near Ward’s Lake. He urged citizens to recognise their contribution and help keep the city clean.
But appreciation alone cannot sustain lives.
As another simple truth reminds us, “A clean city is built not just by those who sweep it, but by those who value the hands that do.”
Today, those hands are still working—but they are also waiting.
