Haryana sanitation workers extend strike, plans jan nyaya panchayats

The workers, who have been on strike since August 6 are demanding regularisation of their services, an end to the contractor system and implementation of a 17-point agreement

: Sanitation workers in Haryana on Wednesday extended their state-wide strike for four more days and announced city-level ‘jan nyaya panchayats’ from September 10 to 12, followed by a state-level meeting in Kurukshetra on September 13.

Around 13,090 sanitation workers employed on municipal “palika rolls” are part of the strike, while nearly 3,400 regular employees have extended their support. (HT File)

The workers, who have been on strike since August 6 are demanding regularisation of their services, an end to the contractor system and implementation of a 17-point agreement reached with the government on May 13.

Naresh Shastri, state president of the Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, said condolence meetings would be held on Wednesday, followed by the jan nyaya panchayats in cities and districts over the next three days.

He said the Kurukshetra meeting on September 13 would decide the future course of the agitation. The union has also appealed to farmers, traders and social organisations to participate in the meetings.

Around 13,090 sanitation workers employed on municipal “palika rolls” are part of the strike, while nearly 3,400 regular employees have extended their support. The union is also seeking the absorption of around 16,500 outsourced door-to-door garbage collectors into municipal rolls.

The union, however, has rejected the offer, saying security of service under the 2024 law cannot substitute regularisation. The protesting were adamant with their 17 demands be accepted.

But the government has maintained that it has accepted most of the workers’ demands but immediate regularisation of thousands of contractual employees is not feasible.

Meanwhile, authorities have intensified action against the protesting employees. After a September 5 deadline to resume duty, 32 workers were dismissed on September 7. The number of dismissals subsequently rose to 62, while 10 employees were suspended, according to official figures.

In Fatehabad, authorities on Wednesday terminated the services of 330 palika-roll workers across five municipalities and removed 45 regular employees.

Police have also registered FIRs in cases where protesters allegedly obstructed garbage clearance operations.

The prolonged strike has disrupted sanitation services and resulted in accumulation of garbage in several urban areas of the state.

The union has said the agitation will continue until the government issues a written order on regularisation.