High voltage drama unfolded at the BHU gate in Lanka area and at Sardar Patel Maldahiya crossing in Varanasi on Wednesday morning, where scores of sanitary workers dumped garbage and staged a demonstration demanding a wage hike. They claimed they are compelled to work for up to 18 hours a day and urged that their remuneration should be increased judiciously.
Municipal Corporation Response
Taking note of the demonstration, the Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) warned the sanitary staff not to be misled by false information to indulge in protests, stating that the government order for a wage hike had been implemented with immediate effect. Nearly 4,000 sanitation workers would receive two months' arrears effective from April 1.
Traffic Paralysis and Protest
Traffic was paralysed at both crossings during the busiest hour when people were heading to their workplaces. Sanitation workers expressed their anger by dumping garbage collected from several areas of the city on the roads, alleging unjust wages and working hours. Personnel from Lanka and Sigra police stations reached both crossings and convinced the protestors to call off their stir. Later, VMC officials arrived and ensured the removal of garbage dumped at both crossings.
Official Statement
Releasing its official statement in the evening, VMC said that in view of the recently issued Government Order (GO), it has decided to increase the salary of outsourced sanitation workers from April 1, 2026. Accordingly, outsourced sanitation workers will now receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 13,006. Moreover, nearly 4,000 sanitation workers will also be provided arrears for the past two months.
Clarification on Wage Hike
VMC stated that some disturbing elements had misled sanitation workers in the past few days regarding the wage hike. Some organisations claimed that government salary had been increased to the Rs 18,000–Rs 20,000 scale. Putting a stop to this, Additional Municipal Commissioner Savita Yadav clarified that the government order related to the wage hike was received this month and implemented with immediate effect. From next month, the increased amount will be credited to the workers' bank accounts.
Sanitation workers fall under the 'unskilled' category, and accordingly, their honorarium has been fixed at Rs 13,006 under the government order, which includes a dearness allowance of Rs 765. She appealed to sanitation workers not to be misled in any manner and not to believe any misleading information. Along with the increase in honorarium, benefits of government welfare schemes are also being extended to these workers, under which sanitation workers are now being covered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and Namaste Yojana to ensure better health security for them.
