The hunger strike by sanitation workers in Jaipur, demanding the implementation of recruitment agreements, entered its second day on Saturday. Members of the Sayukt Valmiki Evam Safayi Shramik Sangh began the protest on Friday at the Jaipur Municipal Corporation headquarters. They are urging the government to prioritize workers who have served urban local bodies on a contract or muster-roll basis.
Union warns of statewide work boycott
Union president Nandkishore Dandoriya stated that multiple rounds of discussions and agreements had already taken place among community representatives, Jaipur Municipal Corporation officials, and the Local Self-Government Department. However, he claimed no concrete decision had been reached so far.
“The government announced recruitment for 30,000 sanitation worker posts. Of these, recruitment is to be carried out for 24,793 vacant positions. We have consistently raised our concerns regarding the process, but there has been no meaningful outcome. We will wait until June 25, and if no decision is taken, we will hold a meeting and launch a statewide work boycott from June 26,” Dandoriya said.
Concerns over recruitment criteria
Dandoriya alleged that the recruitment process now requires candidates to furnish ESI and PF records along with experience certificates, even though these provisions came into effect only in 2017. “Many sanitation workers were on contract and muster-roll arrangements long before 2017. Their experience should also be recognised. The current criteria risk excluding a large number of workers who have spent years doing this work,” he said.
The union said it will continue the hunger strike while awaiting a response from the government or the administration.
