Shailesh Balu Ghawte, Housekeeping Supervisor, ARMSIPL Honoured with Special Award at the 21st Clean India Show
The 21st edition of the Clean India Show reached a high point on the night of December 26, 2025, as Clean India Journal recognized a frontline champion who drives the standards of hygiene and facility management in India. Shailesh Balu Ghawte, Housekeeping Supervisor from Allied Resource Management Services (India) Pvt. Ltd (ARMSIPL), was presented with a Special Award for his exemplary service and leadership.
The recognition comes on the heels of a high-stakes performance by Ghawte and his team. According to Sudhir Mani, COO of ARMSIPL, Shailesh and his team recently led the housekeeping operations for a prestigious inauguration event. Tasked with managing an environment for a delegation of global expatriates and VIP dignitaries, Ghawte and his team delivered well.
Following the recent high-profile VIP visit the client noted that Shailesh and his team’s “attention to detail, dedication, and hard work ensured that everything was impeccable”.
The client’s testimonial further highlighted the standard Shailesh and his team maintain:
“The cleanliness of the spaces was exceptional and you went above and beyond to ensure that everything was perfect for our distinguished guests. The positive impression you made on our visitors reflects the high standards you maintain every day.”
By honouring Shailesh Balu Ghawte, Clean India Journal reinforces the importance of the individual effort behind the success of cleaning operations in the facility management sector. This is why the cleaning industry remains a vital pillar of India’s corporate infrastructure.
Sudhir highlighted that the recognition received by Ghawte carried significance not only for the individual but also for the larger workforce. He observed that appreciation coming directly from the client, followed by acknowledgement from an industry platform such as Clean India Journal, is a rare and meaningful milestone for a site-level supervisor.
“Such recognition,” Sudhir noted, “serves as a strong motivational trigger for others on the ground, encouraging them to observe, learn and replicate best practices that have earned industry and client appreciation.”
Sudhir emphasised that while the recognition boosts the morale of the individual awardee, its impact extends much further by creating aspirational value among peers. “This becomes particularly important in a sector like housekeeping, which often does not receive the seriousness or professional regard it deserves in India. There continues to be a tendency to look down upon the role, despite the critical contribution of the workforce to service delivery and operational excellence,” he said.
Sudhir pointed out that in a scenario where skilled manpower is scarce, recognising individuals who perform consistently well sends a strong message to the fraternity. “If the industry collectively comes together to offer structured training, knowledge-sharing opportunities and exposure through platforms such as the Clean India Show, the professional acumen of the ground team can improve significantly,” he said.
According to Sudhir, exposure to original equipment manufacturers, chemical suppliers and emerging technology solutions, “enables supervisors to broaden their understanding and apply learnings at the site level”.
Sudhir suggested that institutes and skill development centres should design specialised programmes, including focused training and certification, for frontline housekeeping professionals. “Such initiatives,” he said, “would help groom them further, strengthen their confidence and ultimately benefit the industry by building a more skilled and motivated workforce.”
Parag Pathradkar, General Manager, Allied Resource Management, underlined the importance of balancing operational efficiencies with a strong human connect in facility management. He noted that while organisations often focus on workplace optimisation, cost control and strategic planning, the human touch remains equally critical to successful service delivery.
While acknowledging the initiative taken by Mohana and the Clean India Journal team in recognising individuals such as Ghawte, Pathradkar described him as the face and primary point of contact at the site for both the client and the service provider.
According to Pathradkar, supervisors play a pivotal role in “translating organisational strategies into actionable outcomes on the ground, ensuring seamless coordination between facility management teams and clients”.
Pathradkar emphasised that it is this frontline supervisory workforce that makes operational plans workable in real-world conditions. “While leadership teams define direction and strategy,” he said, “supervisors are the ones who deliver on those commitments every day at the site level. Recognising their contribution, he added, reinforces the importance of people-centric leadership and strengthens the overall service ecosystem.”