Safai sewaks refuse to relent, stage protest

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 28

Members of the Nagar Nigam Safai Karamchari Union and Municipal Workers Union refused to relent and decided to continue their stir against the state government and the Municipal Corporation of Bathinda today as well. The members of the two unions raised slogans and marched from the MCB office on Mall Godaam Road and made their way through the busy lanes of Dhobi Baazar and Hospital Bazaar.

Addressing the members, president of the union, Veerbhan said this time they would not settle for any assurances as this was a matter of ‘do or die’ for them. Giving examples of the meetings convened with senior officials and government functionaries in the past, the president stated that all the promises made to the union members had proved to be fake.

Listing out the demands, Veerbhan stated that the union was fighting to get at least 1,500 more safai sewaks recruited since over the years, not only the population but the limits of the MCB had also increased. He stated that the safai sewaks who are educated and hold diplomas in different fields should be given posts and responsibilities as per their educational qualifications so that their morale gets a boost.

He further stated that there were several safai sewaks who had been working for several years but were not covered under the pension schemes. Such workers should now be extended all the pension benefits. Apart from regularisation of at least 140 safai workers immediately, the union is also demanding that those working as sanitary mates and drivers should be regularised for these posts without any conditions in addition to regularisation of workers who have been employed through outsourcing.

He also added that as many as 75 workers who are responsible for collecting trash from houses and 35 workers who were removed from duties by the JITF be brought back under the JITF and the MCB. He added that the union was also demanding that the outstanding amount of the installment of dearness allowance should also be released immediately.

The union members also threatened that in case their demands are not heeded any time soon, they would intensify the stir and a larger number of employees will participate in the agitation thereby jeopardising the sanitation conditions in the city.