PATNA: A delegation representing agitating workers of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) unsuccessfully tried to meet chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday even as the indefinite strike called by them entered the fifth day. The strike has led to accumulation of heaps of garbage across the city.
The workers, who had planned a march from the Maurya Lok complex towards the chief minister’s residence, were stopped by the police at the gate of the complex. They were allowed to send a six-member delegation to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
“A conversation with the CM was not possible due to the cabinet meeting, but we have been assured that he has been informed about the issue. We are hopeful that a conversation with the CM will take place soon,” said Chandraprakash Singh, president of the Patna Municipal Corporation Joint Employees’ Coordination Committee. Singh added the strike would continue until a satisfactory resolution is reached. “There is no question of ending the strike for the time being,” he added.
The agitating workers are demanding regularization of their jobs, an increase in the minimum wage to Rs 18,000 and the abolition of outsourcing companies.
The PMC, on its part, has decided to go ahead with its plan to implement new wages for sanitation workers which will come into effect from October 1. Daily-wage workers will now be paid Rs 490 per day and sanitation supervisors Rs 540 per day. The registration process for this increase began on Monday. All daily workers will have to report to their respective circle offices to avail the increased wages.
The PMC has assigned the responsibility for door-to-door garbage collection to 375 sector supervisors spread across 75 wards. Each supervisor will receive 1-litre petrol to ensure that they oversee and facilitate door-to-door waste collection effectively.
The workers, who had planned a march from the Maurya Lok complex towards the chief minister’s residence, were stopped by the police at the gate of the complex. They were allowed to send a six-member delegation to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
“A conversation with the CM was not possible due to the cabinet meeting, but we have been assured that he has been informed about the issue. We are hopeful that a conversation with the CM will take place soon,” said Chandraprakash Singh, president of the Patna Municipal Corporation Joint Employees’ Coordination Committee. Singh added the strike would continue until a satisfactory resolution is reached. “There is no question of ending the strike for the time being,” he added.
The agitating workers are demanding regularization of their jobs, an increase in the minimum wage to Rs 18,000 and the abolition of outsourcing companies.
The PMC, on its part, has decided to go ahead with its plan to implement new wages for sanitation workers which will come into effect from October 1. Daily-wage workers will now be paid Rs 490 per day and sanitation supervisors Rs 540 per day. The registration process for this increase began on Monday. All daily workers will have to report to their respective circle offices to avail the increased wages.
The PMC has assigned the responsibility for door-to-door garbage collection to 375 sector supervisors spread across 75 wards. Each supervisor will receive 1-litre petrol to ensure that they oversee and facilitate door-to-door waste collection effectively.
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