Caste discrimination rampant in Malerkotla MC: Safai sewaks

Mahesh Sharma

Malerkotla, July 16

Alleging caste discrimination in Malerkotla civic body, members of the Safai Mazdoor and Sewermen Union threatened to hold

a state-wide protest.

The union members alleged that the staff belonging to the Valmiki community was forced to handle garbage without safety gadgets. They claimed that general category employees, posted as sweepers in the municipal council, were exempted from cleaning waste.

Denying the allegations, Sanitary Inspector Gurinder Dhiman, said, “Several employees are working in different departments, including the sanitary wing of civic body. We don’t discriminate on the basis of caste while allocating duties.”

Dhiman acknowledged that non-Valmiki employees were employed as sweepers.

Dhulia Ram, patron, Safai Mazdoor and Sewermen Union, said, the authorities had had failed to protect human rights of the Valmiki community. “Our members are working in inhumane conditions .Even non-Valmikis are being appointed as sweepers in civic bodies,” said Ram.