Sanitation Workers’ Strike: Garbage accumulates on Pampore roads

PAMPORE — Heaps of garbage is seen on the roads in saffron town of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district as the daily wage sanitation workers of Pampore Municipal Committee (PMC) are on strike from past four days.

The workers, who even staged a protest against incumbent Executive Officer outside the MC office, neither went for door-to-door garbage collection nor did they sweep the roads on Monday. Hence, garbage produced daily in the town remained on roads and lanes.

The protesting sanitation workers said that they are without wages from past four months while despite repeated requests, the Executive Officer Shakeel Ahmed doesn’t release their wages.

“Whenever we raise the issue with the Executive Officer, he, instead of listening to us, scolds and humiliates us. We don’t know what to do. Strike was the only option for us,” they said.

Executive Officer, Shakeel Ahmed said the sanitation workers are being properly paid. “They haven’t received the wages for the month of August due to deficit because of the lockdown. I have sought financial assistance from the Director Local Bodies. Wages will be paid to these workers,” he said.