Sanitation Workers' Protest Disrupts Mohali's Waste Management Launch
The Municipal Corporation of Mohali's ambitious plan to introduce a door-to-door collection system for segregated wet and dry waste faced a major setback on Wednesday. The scheduled inauguration ceremony, which was to be flagged off by local MLA Kulwant Singh, had to be abruptly cancelled due to an ongoing protest by sanitation workers. This development highlights the growing tensions between municipal authorities and the workforce responsible for maintaining urban cleanliness.
Protesters Block Vehicles at Shahi Majra Point
According to initial plans, the waste collection vehicles were supposed to arrive at 9 AM to mark the beginning of the new scheme. However, several sanitation workers and garbage collectors gathered at the Shahi Majra point, where they surrounded and blocked the stationed vehicles. The police administration eventually intervened to facilitate a joint meeting between union leaders, the MLA, and the Municipal Commissioner. Despite these discussions, the workers' demands remained unmet, leading to the continuation of their protest action.
Key Demands of the Striking Workers
As the strike entered its second day, Punjab Safai Mazdoor Federation leader Sobha Ram outlined the primary issues driving the protest. The sanitation workers are demanding:
- An increase in their salaries to reflect their essential work
- Regularization of workers who have been serving for several years without permanent status
- Withdrawal of the online attendance system which they find burdensome
- Implementation of the Supreme Court's "equal pay for equal work" verdict
- Promotion of eligible employees to positions like sanitary jamadar and driver
- Release of pending dearness allowance (DA) instalments
- Cancellation of the contract awarded for door-to-door garbage collection
The union leaders have accused the administration of not taking their concerns seriously and treating sanitation workers unfairly. They have declared that the strike will continue until all their demands are properly addressed, placing responsibility for any inconvenience to residents squarely on the Municipal Corporation administration.
Internal Divisions Among Worker Groups
Amid the ongoing protest, a significant rift has emerged between different unions representing Mohali's sanitation workers. Ajit Kumar, a representative of the Safai Sewak Mazdoor Union (Mohali), stated that his organization had not called for any strike and appealed to all workers to remain present at their duties. He alleged that the current protest was being orchestrated by the Pawan Godiyal group for personal gain and that many workers were being misled into participating.
Kumar further claimed that sanitation workers were actively continuing their work on main roads in several sectors of the city and had not joined the strike. He also made serious allegations that some supervisors were pressuring sanitation workers to participate in the protest, threatening salary deductions if they refused to comply.
Worker Perspectives on the Situation
Adding another layer to the complex situation, sanitation worker Nirmala Devi expressed frustration that neither the administration nor the union leadership seemed to be addressing their genuine concerns. "The workers are having to suffer," she stated, emphasizing the urgent need for salary increases that would reflect their difficult working conditions and essential contributions to the city's hygiene.
This protest comes at a critical time for Mohali's waste management infrastructure, as the city attempts to implement more systematic approaches to garbage collection and segregation. The standoff between municipal authorities and sanitation workers underscores the challenges cities face when trying to modernize essential services while ensuring fair treatment of the workforce responsible for their implementation.
