PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The sanitation workers associated with Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) warned on Wednesday that they would launch an indefinite hunger strike inside the premises from August 7 if the administration fails to hold talks with them over their pending demands. Notably, the Safai Karamchari Union has been protesting for the past several days. As part of their agitation, they suspended door-to-door waste collection and roadside garbage lifting across the city on July 30, leading to waste piling up in several localities. The Safai Karamchari Union president Sonu Khairwal said that despite the escalating protest, no concrete action has been taken on its demands.
“The administration assured us that talks would be held on August 5, but the meeting did not take place. We later met Dehradun mayor Saurabh Thapliyal and he requested us to allow one more day, assuring us of talks on Thursday. We will wait till that day,” he said.
The workers are demanding implementation of the Municipal Corporation Board’s decision to increase the monthly honorarium hike of Paryavaran Mitras by Rs 800. They are also seeking approval for the recruitment of 715 Paryavaran Mitras (sanitation workers) and revision of the cut-off date for regularisation from 2018 to 2024 so that more sanitation workers can be made permanent.
