It has been 15 days since garbage collection stopped in Doraha, leaving the town reeking and sanitation conditions deteriorating rapidly. Sanitary workers have struck work and are not ready to relent till the government accepts their genuine demands. The sanitary conditions have deteriorated all the more and it seems that the government is least bothered as far as the health of residents is concerned.
Doraha Safai Sewak Union president Rocky said the government was treating their collective demand for justice lightly.
“When every section of society can raise its voice to get its demands fulfilled, why can’t we? Ours is one of the most deprived sections and needs immediate attention from the government. Inflation is at its peak, yet we are expected to survive on meagre wages. With the rising cost of living, how can we fulfil the daily needs of our families? This is nothing short of bonded labour,” he said.
“We work day and night in deplorable conditions to keep the town clean and residents safe from diseases, but our efforts have brought us no relief. We are suffering and no one truly understands our miserable condition,” he added.
The protesters criticised the government for not taking timely action despite the strike continuing for a fortnight.
“It is shameful that the government is fully aware of the strike and the worsening sanitary conditions in towns and cities, yet no prompt decision has been taken. This issue cannot be delayed any further as the health of thousands of citizens is at risk due to uncollected garbage,” the protesters said.
They added that although they had repeatedly demanded regularisation of services and other benefits, no concrete assurance had been given by the government.
“Verbal promises and false assurances will no longer work. We want a formal decision and immediate implementation so that workers know their demands have genuinely been accepted,” they said.
Meanwhile, residents expressed frustration over the deteriorating condition of the town as heaps of garbage continued to accumulate.
“We fail to understand why the government is ignoring the demands of sanitation workers when garbage has piled up to such an extent that residents prefer to stay indoors to avoid the unbearable stench and unpleasant sight,” said a local resident.
The situation worsened further when three secondary garbage dumps caught fire on Tuesday night, forcing fire brigade teams to rush to the spot to douse the flames. The burning waste added to air pollution and raised fresh health concerns.
On the other hand, Payal MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura claimed that most of the workers’ demands had already been accepted.
He said sewer workers and sweepers who had worked under private contractors for three years would now be brought directly under the Punjab Government. Their salaries would be credited directly into their bank accounts without any middlemen involved.
“The monthly salary has been increased to Rs 15,100. Workers will also receive statutory benefits such as provident fund, ESI, gratuity, maternity leave and casual leave as per law,” the MLA said.
He further stated that any employee completing ten years of service would be regularised and absorbed into government service. According to Giaspura, more than 65,000 employees across Punjab are expected to benefit from the decision.
