Sweepers strip to highlight civic apathy

Mumbai: Deprived of safety gear, more than 1,300 male conservancy workers attached to the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) sanitation-garden department on a contractual basis launched a unique agitation to register their protest against the civic administration on Monday. Demanding much-needed safety gear such as gumboots, raincoats, masks and gloves, the workers did not strike work but opted to carry on with their regular duties — turning up in their shorts only.    

The agitation which was held under the aegis of the Vivek Pandit-led  Shramjeevi Kamgar Rayat Sanghatana was withdrawn in the afternoon after a time-bound assurance by municipal commissioner Balaji Khatgaonkar to a delegation representing the protesters of doing the needful so as to ensure that the contractual company gives the safety gear within two days.