Mumbai rats help BMC make a killing

After the documentary trailer screening of Rat Killers in Mumbai at the Cannes film festival in France last year, many foreign firms have approached the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for permission to shoot the night rat killers in action, documenting their lives and working style.

Dr Arun Bamane, BMC’s chief insecticide officials said he was surprised by the overwhelming response of overseas firms to shoot NRKs and city rodents. “I have approved around 100 applications in the past few months. Firm representatives tell me that it is a unique concept that people in western and European countries would love to see, especially since rodents in their cities are hardly visible,” said Dr Bamane, adding that the corporation is earning revenue giving permissions to shoot.

However, BMC NRKs are not too happy with the exposure. “Due to them, we cannot complete our daily rat killing quota. They may get good footage, but what about us? No one pays attention to resolve our problems such as giving more salaries and providing proper equipment to kill rats. We are still catching rodents using sticks.

With the lights from cameras, rodents are reluctant to come out from burrows, making our task tougher,” said a BMC NRK.
Another NRK suggested, “Actually, some part of the fees the BMC charges the overseas firms should be given to us. We deserve it.”