<p>In a rare gesture, Domlur residents on Saturday felicitated a pourakarmika who retired after 32 years of service in the locality.</p>.<p>The Domlur Layout Residents Welfare Association (DLRWA) and Domlur Senior Citizens Charitable Trust felicitated Puttamma for her service.</p>.<p>Talking to DH, 58-year-old Puttamma admitted to being emotional having to bid adieu to a job she loved doing.</p>.<p>“I was really touched by their gesture,” she said. “I’m grateful to each one of them. Their trust and love gave me a sense of fulfillment in the work I did.”</p>.<p>Living in nearby Kodihalli, Puttamma’s day would begin at 4.30 am as she would finish household chores and report for work at 6 am. She said the work taught her discipline that helped her lead a healthy life.</p>.<p>“The health card issued by the municipality remains unused since I didn’t get admitted to hospital in all these years,” Puttamma said.</p>.<p>Originally from Mandya, Puttamma came to Bengaluru 40 years ago, after marriage. Her husband worked as a car driver to an official from the then municipal corporation. “After his passing away in 1992, I had three young children to take care of,” she said.</p>.<p>Since the Rs 900 pension she received from the corporation after her husband’s death was insufficient, she took up the job as a pourakarmika that helped her raise her children.</p>.<p>“My brother-in-law guided me in securing the job of sweeping streets in 1993 with a salary of Rs 1,200,” she said.</p>.<p>Now Puttamma retires with a monthly salary of Rs 42,000 and Rs 10,000 pension, which is sufficient to the needs of her big family.</p>.<p>“We are a joint family with 13 members — two daughters, a son and seven grandchildren. I am proud to say I have shaped all their lives single-handedly,” Puttamma said.</p>.<p>“Work helped in forgetting my personal struggles as I got to interact with and learn from so many people each day. Luckily for me, I have swept the streets of residents who respect the work I do and look after me like one of their own.”</p>.<p>Being a permanent employee of the corporation, she did not face issues like salary or safety offered by the civic body. “I’m grateful to the BBMP,” she added.</p>.<p>Already on the next job</p>.<p>Two private offices in the locality have already appointed her to work. “As it is tough to stay at home with nothing to do, I was more than willing to get back to work immediately,” said Puttamma.</p>.<p>Shivkumar V Naidu, general secretary, Domlur Layout RWA, said Puttamma always worked with a smile on her face and covered five streets a day. “She was one of the most helpful, kind-hearted persons who never missed work, come rain or shine. Residents will miss her service,” he said.</p>
<p>In a rare gesture, Domlur residents on Saturday felicitated a pourakarmika who retired after 32 years of service in the locality.</p>.<p>The Domlur Layout Residents Welfare Association (DLRWA) and Domlur Senior Citizens Charitable Trust felicitated Puttamma for her service.</p>.<p>Talking to DH, 58-year-old Puttamma admitted to being emotional having to bid adieu to a job she loved doing.</p>.<p>“I was really touched by their gesture,” she said. “I’m grateful to each one of them. Their trust and love gave me a sense of fulfillment in the work I did.”</p>.<p>Living in nearby Kodihalli, Puttamma’s day would begin at 4.30 am as she would finish household chores and report for work at 6 am. She said the work taught her discipline that helped her lead a healthy life.</p>.<p>“The health card issued by the municipality remains unused since I didn’t get admitted to hospital in all these years,” Puttamma said.</p>.<p>Originally from Mandya, Puttamma came to Bengaluru 40 years ago, after marriage. Her husband worked as a car driver to an official from the then municipal corporation. “After his passing away in 1992, I had three young children to take care of,” she said.</p>.<p>Since the Rs 900 pension she received from the corporation after her husband’s death was insufficient, she took up the job as a pourakarmika that helped her raise her children.</p>.<p>“My brother-in-law guided me in securing the job of sweeping streets in 1993 with a salary of Rs 1,200,” she said.</p>.<p>Now Puttamma retires with a monthly salary of Rs 42,000 and Rs 10,000 pension, which is sufficient to the needs of her big family.</p>.<p>“We are a joint family with 13 members — two daughters, a son and seven grandchildren. I am proud to say I have shaped all their lives single-handedly,” Puttamma said.</p>.<p>“Work helped in forgetting my personal struggles as I got to interact with and learn from so many people each day. Luckily for me, I have swept the streets of residents who respect the work I do and look after me like one of their own.”</p>.<p>Being a permanent employee of the corporation, she did not face issues like salary or safety offered by the civic body. “I’m grateful to the BBMP,” she added.</p>.<p>Already on the next job</p>.<p>Two private offices in the locality have already appointed her to work. “As it is tough to stay at home with nothing to do, I was more than willing to get back to work immediately,” said Puttamma.</p>.<p>Shivkumar V Naidu, general secretary, Domlur Layout RWA, said Puttamma always worked with a smile on her face and covered five streets a day. “She was one of the most helpful, kind-hearted persons who never missed work, come rain or shine. Residents will miss her service,” he said.</p>