The Haryana government has warned striking sanitation workers to return to work by Saturday, failing which legal and departmental action will be taken against them. The workers have been on strike since August 6th in support of their various demands, including permanent employment, leading to piles of garbage at many locations.
Appeal to striking employees to return to work
The government has directed all municipal corporation commissioners and district municipal commissioners to inform the striking employees under their jurisdiction to report to their duty by September 5, as they have been absent without any notice or permission. A letter issued by the Urban Local Bodies Department on Wednesday reminded senior officials that sanitation is an essential service and maintaining it is the primary responsibility and duty of municipal bodies. “As per the provisions of the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1973, sanitation also falls under the purview of the Haryana Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1974,” it said.
The letter claims that the striking workers are not only preventing other employees from doing their work, but are also damaging sanitation equipment and machinery. There are allegations that the striking workers are preventing officials from removing garbage heaps across the state and have even scuffled with the police. “FIRs have also been filed against some of the striking workers in this regard,” the letter said.
The government said – 12 demands have already been accepted.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini recently informed the state assembly that the government is working tirelessly to resolve issues related to sanitation workers and that 12 of their demands have already been met. He said that since the demand for regularization of services involves several legal aspects, it is being examined from a legal perspective. Amid the ongoing strike, the opposition has intensified its attacks on the BJP government.
The opposition targeted the government
Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda accused Saini of being indifferent to the demands of the protesters. Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal said that sanitation workers were facing police action at many places. INLD MLA Aditya Devi Lal accused the BJP government of “injustice and harassment” against sanitation workers. On September 1, Congress MLAs also raised the issue during the monsoon session of the assembly and demanded that the government accept their demands and resolve the problem.
