HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, Nov 18: The strike by seventy-nine daily-wage sanitation workers in Sivasagar has entered its third day, leading to a significant deterioration in sanitation conditions in the market area and the 14 wards under the Sivasagar Municipality Board (SMB). The ongoing strike has resulted in piles of garbage and a pervasive stench in key locations, including Muktinath Chariali and Station Chariali.
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The workers are demanding an increase in their salary from the current Rs 12,500 to Rs 20,000 per month. Additionally, they are calling for the opening of a CPF account for each daily wage employee. The strike was initiated after the SMB management allegedly showed indifference to the workers’ concerns, despite collecting substantial civic taxes.
On Friday, the workers expressed their dissatisfaction with the SMB management, claiming that no representative from the board visited the home of Manju Panging, a fellow worker who recently passed away. The workers argue that their demands are reasonable given the heavy taxes collected by the board.
SMB chairperson Mrinali Konwar clarified that daily-wage workers cannot be included in the CPF scheme as they are not permanent employees of the board.
Konwar further contended that the workers’ demands are unwarranted, as they are already receiving Rs 12,500 per month, which is reportedly higher than their counterparts in similar towns across the state. The chairperson attributed the sudden strike to incitement from a specific section of the population.
The impasse continues between the striking workers and the SMB management, impacting the cleanliness and hygiene of crucial public areas in Sivasagar.
