DMK MP Kanimozhi on Tuesday hit out at the Edapadi Palaniswami government in Tamil Nadu over the termination of 700 sanitation workers of the Greater Chennai Corporation.
Kanimozhi tweeted, "COVID-19 warriors are celebrated across the state but the EPS govt has decided to terminate the services of 700 sanitation workers in Chennai. Firing them without even a notice period, especially when unemployment is rife, is cruel given we depended on them during the pandemic. This is the gratitude they get, especially on the eve of Pongal."
The dismissal of the sanitation workers just before the popular harvest festival of Pongal has caused outrage in Tamil Nadu.
The News Minute reported that the sanitation workers were sacked by the Greater Chennai Corporation without any notice period on Tuesday. The move triggered protests by the staff. "Incidentally, the move comes a few months after the Chennai Corporation handed over the solid waste management in various zones to private players. The solid waste management at zones such as Adyar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam, Alandur, Valasaravakkam, Sholinganallur and Perungudi will be handled by private companies," The News Minute added.
The New Indian Express noted that waste management in just four zones—Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Anna Nagar—is now handled by Greater Chennai Corporation staff, with private operators managing 11 of the 15 zones.
A union representative told The New Indian Express nearly 3,000 people could end up losing their jobs.
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“Due to the privatisation, the Corporation is forced to accommodate its permanent workers in those four zones. So those working under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) and contract workers are being asked to leave. In total, around 2,900 staff may be asked to leave,” said P Srinivasan, Chennai Corporation Redflag Union, told The New Indian Express.
However, a Greater Chennai Corporation official told The New Indian Express the temporary sanitation staff would be absorbed by the private operators.
