Tamil Nadu garbage collector spends lifetime earnings to erect his own statue

Wishing that people in his village should not forget him even after his death, Nallathambi, a man from Tamil Nadu's Salem district spent the money he had earned by working as a garbage collector for the past 25 years, to erect his own statue.

Salem (Tamil Nadu): A man from Tamil Nadu's Salem district, spent the money he had saved up by working as a garbage collector for the past 25 years, to erect a statue of himself.

Nallathambi (60), who hails from Attanurpatti Thookiyampalayam village near Vazhappadi in Salem district, was earlier living in his own house with his wife and children, but later separated from them due to a disagreement.

Since then, Nallathambi has been living in the same area for 25 years, collecting discarded bottles from the streets. He also managed to build a modest tiled roof house for himself in the village.

However, Nallathambi wished that people in the are should not forget him, and continue talking about him even after his death. After consulting his friends, Nallathambi decided to erect a statue of himself in his own plot of land.

With all his lifetime savings, he purchased two plots of 1,200 square feet each on the Vazhapadi-Belur village road. He then approached a local sculptor and paid him Rs 1.30 lakh to make his statue.

Once the statue was ready, Nallathambi erected it on his piece of land and even built a concrete canopy over it.

Nallathambi statue has become a hot topic of discussion among the villagers, who often stop at the statue while passing by.

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