Sanitation workers begin statewide work boycott over recruitment

Jaipur: The protest by Valmiki sanitation workers intensified Friday, with thousands of workers across Rajasthan deciding to boycott sanitation work from Saturday over pending recruitment demands.The decision was taken at a meeting of the Sayukt Valmiki Safayi Karmachari Evam Safayi Shramik Sangh at the Jaipur Municipal Corporation headquarters in Lal Kothi. Workers from across the state attended the meeting and formed a 51-member committee to lead the agitation. Leaders of several sanitation workers' organisations spoke at the meeting.

“The agitation will continue until the govt takes a concrete decision on our key demands,” said Nandkishore Dandoriya, president of the Sayukt Valmiki Evam Safayi Shramik Sangh.

“As part of the protest, sanitation work in urban local bodies across the state will remain completely affected. Door-to-door garbage collection will also remain suspended, and Valmiki sanitation workers employed by private companies and households will also boycott sanitation work,” he added.From Saturday, sanitation workers will stage protests at attendance points in their respective wards, while committee members will visit municipal corporations, councils and local bodies across the state to mobilise support.

The workers are demanding that the govt issue a sanitation workers’ recruitment notification within seven days, give priority to the Valmiki community in recruitment, recognise the experience of pre-2017 contract workers, amend recruitment rules, appoint candidates affected by pending court cases and implement previous agreements with the union.