Mangaluru: A sanitation worker in Dakshina Kannada district has become the centre of attention for arriving at work in a luxury Toyota Fortuner before picking up a broom and cleaning the streets of BC Road.
Sheshappa Navoor, a sanitation worker from Bantwal, drives his Fortuner himself to BC Road every morning. He parks the vehicle near the police station, gets out, picks up his broom and begins his routine sanitation work.
He usually reaches the area around 5 am and gets down to work without hesitation. After cleaning various parts of the BC Road market area and completing his duties, he returns home in the same vehicle around noon.
What has surprised many is not merely his luxury vehicle but his continued commitment to his profession despite becoming financially well-off.
Sheshappa reportedly began his working life earning just Rs 50 a day. Over the past three decades, he has taken up several jobs and gradually improved his financial position. He is also involved in agriculture and dairy farming.
A passionate automobile enthusiast, Sheshappa had dreamt of owning cars from a young age. He initially travelled by bicycle before saving enough money to buy a Maruti 800. He later owned vehicles, including an Omni, Ritz, Alto, and Scorpio.
Recently, he sold his Alto and Scorpio and purchased a second-hand Fortuner, reportedly worth around Rs 35 lakh. The vehicle, however, has not changed his attitude towards work.
Years of hard work brought financial stability
Despite owning a luxury SUV, Sheshappa continues to report for duty as a sanitation worker and performs his responsibilities without any sense of hesitation or embarrassment.
His journey has been marked by considerable hardship. There were times when he struggled even to find money for his father’s last rites. Through years of hard work, however, he gradually built financial stability through multiple occupations.
Sheshappa believes that no work is small or inferior and that every profession deserves dignity. His decision to continue sanitation work despite his improved financial circumstances has earned him appreciation among residents and others who regularly see him at work.
His daily routine has also become an example of humility. While his Fortuner may attract attention, Sheshappa remains focused on his broom and his responsibilities once he steps out of the vehicle.
For residents of BC Road, his story carries a simple message: financial success should not make a person forget the value of work. Sheshappa’s commitment to sanitation, along with his involvement in agriculture and dairy farming, has made him an unusual example of hard work and dignity of labour.
His life journey, from earning Rs 50 a day to owning a luxury vehicle while continuing to perform his duties as a sanitation worker, has now become a source of inspiration for many.
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