Years on, sanitation workers await regularisation

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 12

Thousands of contractual sanitation workers have been performing their duty amid the Covid crisis, however their wait for regularisation seems to be unending.

Ahead of the state Assembly elections, sewermen and safai karamcharis were ‘assured’ that their jobs will be regularised soon, but nothing has been done on the ground.

Several protests have also been held in the past seeking regularisation of the contractual workers. There are over 3,000 contractual sweepers and sewermen working under the Ludhiana MC.

A contractual sewerman in Ludhiana said: “With Rs 8,500 per month, it becomes difficult to run the family. My job has also required me to put my life on the line many times. I appeal to the government to regularise the job of contractual workers,” he said.

A woman sweeper said, “I have been working with the Ludhiana MC for around 10 years on a contract basis. I have never hesitated to work amid this hour of crisis. Promises made to us in the past have not been fulfilled till date. Our pay should be increased and we must be regularised at the earliest.”

Subash Desawar, state convener, Safai Karamchari Andolan, said “A number of sewermen, including regular and contractual employees, have either lost their lives or fallen sick after inhaling poisonous gases while cleaning the sewer in the past. It goes without saying that the sanitation workers do their work under tough conditions.”

Vijay Kumar of the Municipal Karamchari Sayunkt Committee, Ludhiana, said many contractual workers had been working for the past over 10 years in Ludhiana MC. He said, “The contractual sanitation workers are performing their duty with dedication during this time of crisis. Their jobs should be regularised.”

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu said, “I had earlier raised this matter before the government. I will again take it up with the government and demand regularisation of jobs of contractual sewermen and safai karamcharis.”