3 hrs ago
Haryana sanitation workers’ strike puts BJP government under pressure
About 13,000 sanitation workers in Haryana have stopped working.
They want their jobs to become permanent.
Their strike has lasted 28 days and garbage has piled up in many towns and cities.
Government officials and police have sometimes tried to clear the garbage using machines.
Some protests have led to clashes, arrests, and police cases.
The government says it agrees with 12 of the workers’ 13 demands but cannot make their jobs permanent because of court-related legal problems.
It has offered to raise their monthly pay from Rs 19,000 to Rs 21,000.
The Congress is supporting the workers and criticizing the BJP government.
The dispute matters politically because many workers are from the Valmiki community.
Around 13,000 Haryana sanitation workers have been on strike for 28 days, disrupting urban sanitation services.
The workers’ main demand is regularisation of their jobs; the government says legal hurdles prevent it.
The government says it has accepted 12 of the workers’ 13 demands after six rounds of talks.
Police and local officials have clashed with protesters during attempts to remove accumulated garbage.
The strike has political significance because many sanitation workers belong to the Valmiki community, which the BJP is seeking to attract.
- Who
- Around 13,000 Haryana sanitation workers, the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government, and Congress legislators are central to the dispute.
- What
- Sanitation workers are striking for regularisation of their jobs, while the government says it has accepted 12 other demands and offered higher wages.
- Where
- The strike has disrupted sanitation services in urban areas across Haryana, with reported confrontations including in Hisar.
- When
- The strike had entered its 28th day on Wednesday; the issue was raised in the Haryana Assembly on Tuesday.
- Why
- Workers want permanent employment, while the government cites legal hurdles to regularisation and says it has proposed increased financial benefits instead.
Workers and Congress
BJP government
Regularisation of employment
Workers and Congress
The striking workers and Congress want sanitation workers’ services to be regularised, treating them like other employees.
BJP government
The government says court decisions create legal obstacles and that regularising the workers in this manner could amount to backdoor entry.
Handling of protests
Workers and Congress
Congress leaders and the workers’ union accuse police of using force, including allegedly pulling women workers’ hair and dragging them into vehicles.
BJP government
Minister Krishan Bedi accuses the Opposition of provoking the agitators and says it is trying to disturb the state’s atmosphere.
Political impact
Workers and Congress
Congress says the government is using force to suppress the strike and has sought a legislative resolution supporting regularisation.
BJP government
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini says the BJP government is working to resolve the concerns and accuses Congress of politicising the dispute.
Key facts
- Workers on strike
- Around 13,000 sanitation workers
- Strike duration
- 28 days as of Wednesday
- Main demand
- Regularisation of sanitation workers’ jobs
- Government position
- The government says it has accepted 12 of 13 demands but faces legal hurdles over regularisation.
- Current monthly wage
- Rs 19,000
- Proposed monthly wage
- Rs 21,000
- Negotiations
- The government says six rounds of meetings have been held with the workers.
Quotes
Devi Das Valmiki
President of Dalit-A Mahapanchayat
“The women workers go for sanitation work at 6 am, when their children are still sleeping. What are they demanding? Just regularisation, like other employees, including guest lecturers. Why is the government not listening to them? What is their fault?”
indianexpress.com
“The court says that so many employees cannot be regularised in this manner. The high court says this would amount to backdoor entry. We have offered increased financial benefits, but they are not ready to accept it”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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