Guwahati, 22nd August: In a bold move to highlight their ongoing struggles, sanitation workers under the banner of the Safai Karamcharis Association staged a half-naked protest outside the Bongaigaon Municipality office on Tuesday. The protest, timed during the ongoing state assembly session, aimed to draw attention to their demands for better wages and housing.
Currently, the sanitation workers receive an honorarium of just Rs 3,000 per month, a sum they argue is grossly inadequate to meet even their basic needs. Despite previous discussions between the government and the workers, including negotiations at Badamba, no resolution has been reached, leaving the workers in a state of continued hardship.
Bhim Basfor, the central president of the Safai Karamcharis Association, voiced the collective frustration of the workers. He pointed out the irony of municipalities receiving accolades for cleanliness while neglecting the very workers who make these achievements possible. Basfor criticized the lack of responsiveness from both the government and local authorities to the critical issues faced by sanitation workers.
The protest in Bongaigaon is part of a broader movement seeking justice for these essential workers, with their primary demands focusing on fair wages and access to adequate housing. However, as of now, there has been no official response from the government regarding their grievances. The workers have vowed to continue their struggle until their demands are met.