City News/City Issues

Its machine that replaced man at dhobi ghat Malleshwaram

While Vyalikaval laundryman or washer man den as it popularly, which was in existence for last 70 years has seen light of its day with cloths being washed through mechanization process, previously while 250 families and 1,000 people relied or were working in this dobhi ghat.

L.Raghunanda

4^th Estate

Bangalore

Ashwatnarayan MLA of Malleshwaram, who had came to this place during last election for campaigning saw the condition of washerman/washerwoman here, then he thought what can be done to improve the condition, when mechanization was already in place.

He thought why not introduce it here and with Ramson’s engineering already who were leader in supplying mechanized washing unit to hotels in the way large cloths were washed through mechanization in hotels etc, was installed here, on 12th December 2009.

This is what Ravi Shankar and Anjanappa who are staying in housing quarters provide by them close to Vyalikavala said about how they felt about mechanization before and after it was introduced said “ really we must thank Malleshwaram MLA Ashwatnarayana and BBMP our lives have transformed, with so much energy ,washing in the pond be it rain or sunshine and that too using chemicals has all come to end with mechanization, we are happy”.

With 18 washerman or laundry den or popularily known by local name ‘dobhi ghat’ in Bangalore starting with each one at Yeshwanthpur, Rajajinagar 6^th block, Laggere near Tirumala palace choultry, in Nagarbhavi near Papareddypalya, Ashok nagar, Queens road, Vasanthnagar, Fraser road, Kadagondanahlli, Banashankari II stage, Srinagar, Kempegowdanagar, Madiwala, Vannarapet, Ulsoor, Hebbal, Atoor Layout, Yelankha.

The Vyalikaval dobhi ghat became first dobhi ghat in the city not only Bangalore but entire Karnataka state to have mechanization in the way dresses are washed.

“While the life of washerman/washerwoman has been reduced to few years to just 25 from the day they take to this profession, to render service as they have to render their service using soda caustic, chemicals which are harmful to wash the cloth, but with the great help of Ashwathnarayan MLA of Malleshwaram.

This mechanization process in the way the cloths are washed has transformed the life of many washerman, it’s a blessing” says Puttarangiaha Secretary of Vyalikaval Dobhighat at Malleshwaram and secretary of State Madiwala Sangha

“Here nearly 15,000 to 20,000 cloths can be washed each day, these has taken 60 % strain the people engaged in this profession who were facing previously, had to bear while the rate for each cloth washed till it dried varies for example towels, small cloth.

We charge 50 paise for large cloth we charge 80 paise to Rs 1 and more, however what we charge is very less compared to the same cloth given for any other posh commercial laundry unit, and the what they charge” Says Puttarangiaha

“But we are proud to say that even other private laundry person like Singapore Dry cleaners, Simla Dry cleaners, Band box come to us to get wash their cloths, many leading lodges cloths come to us, also apartments and homes cloth comes to us” says Puttarangiaha.

Built in 2400 sq ft area, these laundry factory was built at cost of 2.25 crore, with the help of BBMP, all funded by BBMP, these mechanized washing factory premise has just 8 person who will look after everything from putting cloths to last stage of delivery, till cloths are put for dry, while inside the factory there are five washing machine of different washing capacity one carrying 200 kg two carrying 100 kg and two carrying 50 kg respectively.

Any cloth that is washed need to be carried to next stage that is drying, the factory has four drying machine known as Hydro extractor which will squeeze whole of the water where 80% of whole water in the cloth is extracted these extractor of various capacity can be seen installed in the factory two of which carrying is 50 kgs and the other two carrying capacity is 30 kg

After water is extracted from cloth under Hydro extractor, then cloth is taken for drying there are seven drier, installed inside the factory which carry out drying, the cloth are dried from steam supplied to each of the dryer, from boiler through pipe wherein boiler runs through firewood burning where nearly 1 ton of fire wood is needed each day while each of these drier are of 30 kgs carrying capacity.

“Unlike domestic washing machine at home here chemicals used are of industrial and institutional chemicals prepared by finest chemical laboratories such as Jyothi Laboratories and Atlantic chemicals, though it contain properties just like chemicals you use in your home while you wash cloths they are of good quality.

“With high degree of cleaning agents present in them, more than that these washing machine require to be put those chemicals” says R.Vasu, BBMP Washing Unit operator at Vyalikaval Malleshwaram Dobhi ghat, who also is also technician who will be at the unit from morning 9: 30 till evening 6 O clock.

When asked about how much time it require to wash each cloth he says “ Whether it is washing, extracting or drying in each process 45 minutes to one hour is required, while cotton cloth dry at 80 degree temperature under dryer, synthetic and other cloth dry at 50 degree temperature” says R.Vasu, BBMP Washing Unit operator at Vyalikaval Malleshwaram Dobhi ghat,

“While sufficient water is there to wash these cloth, but consider about the ecological and environment aspect with option to recycle these water, next to these unit recycling unit will come into place where washed cloth will be recycled, BBMP is studying at it for the moment, similarly while now manually cloth are ironed at the moment, at top floor, option are looked up at how manual ironing can be avoided” says Puttarangiaha.

When asked what other demand or request you have made to government Puttarangiaha has this to say “ while weavers in Karnataka were given electricity subsidy, we are requesting similar subsidy to be given to us washerman, now to run this unit, electricity cost come around Rs 40,000 per month which we are paying to BESCOM,” “while chemicals we use cost RS 80,000 per month”

“Having Vyalikaval as model Dobhi ghat unit ,BBMP is thinking of allotting 10 crore to improve other Dobhi ghat in the city” Puttarangiaha said to 4^th Estate