Mechanisation of garbage disposal is more important than job permanency: Thol. Thirumavalavan

VCK founder Thol. Thirumavalavan on Tuesday said mechanisation of garbage disposal was more important than giving permanent jobs to conservancy workers.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Thirumavalavan said he was fully supportive of the demands made by the workers, whose 13-day protest outside the Ripon Buildings in Chennai was brought to an end when the police evicted the protesters following a Madras High Court order.

“While I support their demand for job permanency, I have a second opinion on this matter,” he said.

Responding to criticism that he was not actively involved in the protest, Mr. Thirumavalavan said he had been constantly in touch with the workers since Day 3 of the protest. He had spoken to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Ministers K.N. Nehru and P.K. Sekarbabu, who were engaged in negotiations with the protesters, the VCK leader said.

Change in govt. policy

“I had met the Chief Minister with leaders of the Left parties to press for a separate law for honour-based crimes. I spoke about the protesters and their demands. Minister K.N. Nehru said negotiations were on with the protesters. I stressed the need to allow those workers to continue working under the National Urban Livelihood Mission. But it was clear that demanding permanent jobs meant demanding a change in the government’s policy. This is an issue across Tamil Nadu. I communicated to the protesters that if we request this, there is a possibility that it could be realised. The whole crowd applauded it, saying they too wanted it,” he said.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said the State government was ready to commit to anything except job permanency, which was a policy decision.

“There were two options: a) end the protest and settle the matter in court; b) find an alternative venue for the protest after the Madras High Court said the workers could protest only in authorised places. Even after the court issued a direction, I urged Minister Sekarbabu to allow the protest to continue...speak to them [protesters] till they understand the situation. But the Minister said doing so would be considered contempt of court, and they were removed,” he said.

Mr. Thirumavalavan felt he had been unfairly criticised for not being actively involved in the protest, and not speaking up for the workers, who were mostly from the Scheduled Castes.

“I had given a statement that they should be given permanent jobs across Tamil Nadu,” he said.

He, however, added, “Why should only one community do these kinds of jobs? Seeking job permanency is not agreeable to me. I have a second opinion on this issue despite having already extended my support to this cause. This job (garbage disposal) should be mechanised so that other communities will also come forward to do it.”