PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The protest by sanitation workers at the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) entered its second day on Monday with workers demonstrating against the delay in the State government’s approval of an honorarium hike and the recruitment of 715 Paryavaran Mitras (sanitation workers).
The MCD board, in its meeting held on April 29 had approved an increase of Rs 800 in the monthly honorarium of sanitation workers and the recruitment of 715 Paryavaran Mitras. However, nearly three months later, the proposal is still awaiting approval from the State government, triggering resentment among the workers.
Safai Karamchari Union president Sonu Khairwal said that the union has repeatedly urged the government to act on its demands, but no decision has been taken yet. Apart from the honorarium hike and recruitment, the union has also demanded that the cut-off date for regularisation be revised from 2018 to 2024 so that more sanitation workers can be made permanent.
Khairwal warned that if the State government fails to approve the pending proposal by Tuesday, the union will march to the State secretariat on Wednesday and stage a sit-in protest there until their demands are addressed. He further said that if the honorarium hike is still not approved, sanitation workers will also boycott sanitation work across the city while continuing their protest. He said that the workers will not resume their duties till the State government clears the pending proposals.
