Won’t end protest till govt takes up our demands: Safai staff

GURGAON: MCG sanitation workers on Monday said they will continue to protest and reiterated that they will only call off the strike when a letter highlighting their demands is drafted and sent to the government by MCG. They claimed they have been peacefully protesting for over 100 days since February this year, but there was no initiative for talks by MCG to find a solution, forcing them to call a strike.
MCG’s sanitation staff started the protest on May 23, demanding regularisation of contractual workers and recruitment of new sanitation workers based on the existing population.
“As per the existing population of 24 lakh in the city, there is a requirement of 6,400 sanitation workers and around 600 sewer workers, but at present, there are 3,100 sanitation workers and 300 sewer workers employed by MCG. Officials have adopted an apathetic attitude towards our concern and do not want to fill those vacant posts. During the pandemic, we have not even cared for our lives and provided service without many resources. Many workers have lost their lives, and now we are fighting for our rights. We will not back down until we get a concrete solution,” said Naresh Malkat, state secretary of Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh.
Meanwhile, MCG officials said they are cleaning the city after roping in staff from other contractors, but they are met with resistance from the protesting workers.
“Most of the locations have been cleaned, but at some places, the protesting workers are not allowing us to do our job. Though we have sought police assistance, we have not had much success. Recruitment of sanitation workers, their regularisation, and the creation of new posts are policy-making matters, and the decision will be taken by the government. How can they dictate to us if we can hire new agencies for sanitation or not? It is the prerogative of the MCG. We have already held talks three times with them at the commissioner level, but they are not cooperating with us. If they are ready to call off their strike, we are ready to discuss their demands," said Pradeep Kumar, MCG joint commissioner (Swachh Bharat Mission)