Opposition from sanitation workers against the Bhajan Lal government is intensifying in the state, with workers in the capital deciding to boycott work over the prolonged recruitment process. On Tuesday, Jaipur’s sanitation workers opted for this protest, leading officials from the Local Self-Government Department to engage in discussions with the employees who were preparing for a strike.
Nandkishore Dandoriya, President of the Valmiki and Sanitation Workers’ Union, highlighted that recruitment for sanitation workers had commenced during the previous Congress government in Rajasthan, and the application process was completed.
However, since the formation of the BJP government, the recruitment process has faced delays and unnecessary obstacles. The workers emphasized their intolerance for any hindrance in the ongoing recruitment process.
Representatives from the State Sanitation Workers Union gathered in Jaipur on Tuesday, holding a meeting where they demanded the swift completion of the stalled recruitment process. If the government fails to act promptly, they warned of dire consequences.
During the previous Gehlot government, recruitment for 13,184 sanitation worker positions was announced, and applications were submitted. However, the current government has not taken any action on these applications, causing dissatisfaction among the Valmiki community and sanitation workers statewide, and triggering protests.
With over 8,000 employees in Greater Jaipur and Heritage serving in Nagar Nigam, the union has announced a strike from January 23, coinciding with the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla. However, discussions with the government and the restart of the recruitment process may lead to the postponement of the strike.
The city of Jaipur has already faced cleanliness issues, evident from its low ranking in recent cleanliness surveys, and the potential strike may exacerbate the situation.
