'Won't allow garbage to be picked up', say Hisar sanitation workers

Garbage has turned out to be a tool in the hands of sanitation workers who have been on strike for the past 10 days in support of their demands. They have been “guarding” the garbage on roads across the town, fearing that the municipal authorities would get it removed by hiring private workers.

The Safai Karamchari Association in Hisar has deployed about 40 teams of workers at garbage points, and have been directed not to allow anyone to lift trash.

With garbage piling up, it has become a challenge for residents, especially those residing near dumping sites. Sanitation workers guarding the sites said they would not allow anyone to remove garbage. Surender Kumar, pradhan of the association, said they had chosen youths to stand guard at night. “Our women members remain active during the day and sent back MC officials who had arrived with a tractor-trailer and JCB machine to lift garbage from a market three days ago,” he added.

Their demands include regularisation of services, minimum wages of Rs 30,000, absorption of outsourced staff on municipal rolls, end of contract system, improved working conditions and timely payment of wages.

The pradhan said they received a tip-off that MC officials were preparing to carry out a night operation to clear the garbage heaps from dumping sites. “So we formed these teams. They remain in contact with one another via phone and have been told to alert nearby teams if the authorities arrived with the police,” he said.

There are about 700 sanitation workers and about 300 other workers are also extending support to them in Hisar, Kumar claimed, adding that they had to resort to this tactic to build pressure on the authorities. Asked if it would not pose a health hazard to the residents, he said they would remove the garbage within hours if the state government accepted their demands. Mayor Praveen Popli said they had tried to pick up the garbage from a site three days ago, but the striking workers created a ruckus. “I have been talking to the authorities, and have apprised them about the insanitary conditions in the town,” he said.