Sanitation, fire department staff tonsure heads in Sirsa in protest

A month into their indefinite strike, sanitation and Fire Department workers of the Fatehabad Municipal Council on Friday staged a symbolic protest by tonsuring their heads, saying the government had failed to address their demands.

More than a dozen employees got their heads tonsured during the protest. The Fire Department employee and union leader Satbir Saharan said workers had been on strike for 30 days following a call by the state committee.

Saharan said the employees had chosen tonsuring of heads as a strong symbol of their anger. Referring to the practice of tonsuring one’s head after a death in Hindu tradition, he alleged that the government had remained silent while the workers responsible for public cleanliness and safety had been protesting on the streets for a month.

The employees also said they would not be intimidated by government action. Saharan claimed that 14 permanent employees had recently been suspended, while 10 state-level Fire Department union leaders had been dismissed.

He further alleged that union office-bearers in several districts were facing similar action. According to him, the employees have also been given a 48-hour ultimatum to return to work, along with warnings of action under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

Saharan said the workers were ready to face FIRs, arrest or dismissal but would not end the strike until their demands were addressed.