Sanitation workers of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) have extended their strike until May 11, accusing the Haryana government of failing to address their demands. The workers continued their protest at the old MCG office on Thursday, with members of the Haryana Sarv Karamchari Sangh also preventing sweeping and waste collection in Sadar Bazar, Madanpuri, and Sector 17, tasks that were being carried out by outsourced workers from contractual agencies.
Union Demands and Actions
Basant Kumar, president of the Gurgaon unit of the union, stated, “Our protest is for their demands too. We are demanding rights for all sanitation workers and thus asking outsourced contractual workers to not participate in their regular duties of sweeping and waste collection.” Union representatives have been visiting locations where MCG is using outsourced staff to clear waste from roadsides and vacant plots, informing these workers about the agitation’s goals and seeking their solidarity. Kumar added that outsourced sanitation workers from private firms are also extending their support.
The union is forming round-the-clock monitoring teams to prevent sanitation work during the protest. The strike, which began on May 1, has led to garbage accumulation in various areas. Residents have warned of a potential ‘sanitation crisis’ if the protest continues. Chaitali Mandhotra, a resident of Ardee City, remarked, “Such strikes have become far too frequent, yet the MCG appears to be taking the issue casually. Roads are littered with garbage, and nobody seems bothered about the worsening civic conditions.”
Councillor and Resident Concerns
Ward 4 councillor Pardeep Padam noted that the sanitation situation was already poor before the strike but has worsened. “The condition was already bad since a limited number of sanitation workers were turning up. The authorities concerned should have a dialogue with the union so that they end their strike in Gurgaon,” he said.
Among the 19-point charter of demands, the key issue is the regularisation of contractual sanitation employees. Union leaders have called on the Haryana government to hold talks with employee unions and resolve their demands. Three rounds of talks with MCG have failed, as workers claim they received only assurances without any implementation on the ground. MCG has stated that the issue can only be addressed by the state government.
