Haryana striking sanitation workers to beat utensils outside ministers' residences

Alleging that Khattar government was not sincere towards fulfilling their demands, agitating sanitation workers will beat utensils and blow conch shells outside the residences of ministers, MPs, MLAs and BJP leaders in Haryana.

Piles of garbage has piled up at several places across the state as the standoff between the striking employees and government continued for the 14th day today.

The Union leaders claimed that government was indulging in pressure tactics to force them to end their agitation, but they resolved to continue till their demands were met.

"As the government appears to have gone into deep slumber, we have decided that on Wednesday and Thursday, the striking workers and others who are supporting our agitation, will gather outside the residences of Ministers, MLAs, MPs and other senior functionaries shortly before sun rise.

"We will beat utensils and blow conch shells so that this government wakes up from slumber," Haryana Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh president Naresh Shastri said.

The government is not sincere to resolve the issue. The BJP has gone back on its own promises which it had made at the time of the polls and failed to fulfil demands, he said.

"We are compelled to resort to agitation method as we are left with no other choice," he said.

A big protest rally was held in Gurgaon today as the agitation of the sanitation workers has drawn countrywide support, he said.

"The government is not willing to listen to us. They are trying to force us to withdraw our agitation with threats like ESMA.

"They are also claiming that they have deployed additional workforce at their disposal to clean the towns, but situation on ground tells a different tale as piles of garbage have collected and situation may turn into an epidemic, for which government will be responsible," he said.

Shastri claimed that power and transport department employees too have come out in their support and they too may go on token strike in days to come.

The talks between the state government and the representatives of the striking employees on the past two occasions have failed.

The Safai Karamcharis have been on strike for the last two weeks protesting in support of their various demands.

The major demands of the striking employees include regularisation of the contractual employees, minimum salary of Rs 15,000 per month for Safai Karamcharis, implementation of cashless medical facilities for contractual employees, increasing allowances of both permanent and contractual employees, risk allowance and better safety equipment for those engaged in cleaning sewers.

In the wake of indefinite strike by sanitation workers, Chief Secretary D S Dhesi, had last week directed senior officers in the districts to ensure cleanliness in cities by working in close coordination with one another.

Dhesi had earlier said the state government has accepted main demands of the striking safai karamcharis.

Such arrangements should be made for the disposal of waste as to ensure that there is no pile of waste left causing fear of outbreak of any disease, he had said.