Despite Lathi Charge, Sanitation Workers Resolve to Continue Strike

The lanes of Shahdara – an area from Northeast Delhi – reeked of rotting vegetables and spoilt food. Passersby were forced to cover their nose, as the heaps of garbage emanated putrid smell. The sanitation workers of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) have been on strike for past 27 days.

The workers have resolved to continue until their demands are met.

"We are done with the false promises of EDMC and Delhi government," said Sanjay Gehlot, president of MCD Swachhata Karamchari Union.

An EMDC official told The Indian Express, “Seventy-one safai karamcharis have been suspended for obstructing sanitation work in EDMC — 40 from Shahdara South, and 31 from Shahdara North.”

As the workers were heading to Sansad Marg for a sit-in protest on October 8, they were reportedly met with lathi charge, in which several workers were allegedly injured. "This is brutal. We can't even keep our demands. Women have been brutally injured, and have been taken to the hospital," Gehlot told Newsclick. 

"We have a few demands. Temporary workers should be made permanent, salary should be given on time with no delay, pay arrears, timely pension and medical assistance. We have protesting for years now. But, this time we are sure if the demands are not met, we will continue the strike. Every year, we are given false hopes that they will work on our demands, but nothing happens," he claimed. 

A worker alleged, "We do work where we risk our health, and there is no proper medical assistance. I haven't received my salary as well. How will we run our families? AAP government has been promising many things, but on the ground, they are doing nothing. We want our voices to be heard.” He also said that he has not been made permanent even after working as a sanitation worker for 12 years.

"We are not going to cower by these lathi charges and brutality. This time, we will fight till the end," said another worker.