Struggle of corona warriors turns successful; fast-unto-death concludes

Bhilai, Jan 09: On Saturday, the struggle of contract sanitation workers turned successful as the BSP management took stern action against the Contractor, who had illegally retrenched the labours. The BSP management has decided to discontinue the door-to-door garbage collection work in Bhilai Township. Now the task will be conducted by Bhilai Municipal Corporation. The concerned contract agency will hire the same labours on the task. Consequent to this sudden decision, the door-to-door garbage collection work is likely to remain affected for the next couple of days till alternative arrangement. After receiving the written assurance, the sanitation workers ended their on the fifth day of fast-unto-death. BSP executive PK Ghosh, Congress leaders Arun Singh Sisodia and Irfan Khan offered coconut water to the agitators to end the fast.
It needs to be mentioned here that the sanitation workers had alleged that the contractor Anurag Electrical was exploiting them and pressuring to return half of the salary. With this complaint, the labours were staging demonstration. Taking the compliant into cognizance, the contract of Anurag Electricals has been cancelled. BSP will take help of BMC for conducting the city sanitation work and in this regard they will write a letter to BMC Commissioner. The existing labours will be hired by the new contractor. After argument of about two to three hours between the representatives of BSP management, Trade Union, Contractor, Administrative Officials and Congress leaders, the consensus was reached.
It needs to be mentioned here that a team of Health Department had examined the agitating workers on Friday. The BSP management came on its toes only after receiving the report about the worsening health condition of agitators. On Saturday, BSP- CGM PK Ghosh, GM Suraj Soni, Prasad from the Contract Cell, Tehsildar Jayendra Singh, PCC General Secretary Arun Singh Sisodia, PCC Secretary Irfan Khan and Hindustan Ispat Theka Shramik Union (Citu) leaders Yogesh Soni, Jamil Ahmed and Kamlesh Chopra discussed the issue and finally the matter was settled.
During discussion, the management gave proposal to deploy the striking workers on some other tender, but the trade union rejected the same. The union remained adamant on the stance of same work for the sacked off labours. Finally the management assured to hire a new agency for the task and assured that all the 26 agitating labours will be hired by the new agency.