Workers to light diyas on garbage in protest

The striking municipal sanitation workers will light earthen diyas using water, instead of oil, on garbage dumps to mark Diwali on Wednesday as a protest and to show “angst” over non-payment of arrears and their other unfulfilled demands.

“We are empty-handed due to non-payment of our dues, including arrears, and so we have decided to light diyas with water on the garbage dumps,” said Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha.

The Morcha, a combine of 27 sanitation workers’ unions, has been on strike from October 23 over demands, including payment of previous years’ arrears, regularisation of contractual workers and cashless health cards.

The strike, which hit many parts of the city, specially those under East Delhi Municipal (EDMC) area, has slowed down following court orders ordering the civic authorities to lift unattended garbage, although many unions claim to be on strike.

“After the high court order, the sanitation workers were threatened with action after which some joined duty but majority of them are still on strike,” Mr Gehlot said.

“We have slowed down the strike although in view of the problems caused by huge piles of garbage and the resulting unhygienic conditions in the festival season,” he accepted.

“The strike will be intensified after Diwali and we will ensure that its base is expanded in all the three municipal corporations,” he added.

East Delhi mayor Harshdeep Malhotra said that all the sanitation workers were “on duty” and it “seemed only their leaders were on strike.”

“I have checked with wards and all the sanitation workers are doing their job. Around 2,200-2,300 metric tonnes of garbage is generated per day in the municipal area which is being collected by sanitation workers without any problem,” he added.