GUWAHATI, April 8 - The municipality workers of the city have been working tirelessly amid the lockdown, risking their lives.
The cleaners, sweepers, NGOs working under the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and fire brigade personnel are busy cleaning the streets, sanitizing and disinfecting various parts of the city everyday. Similarly, police officials are also seen distributing foods to the needy everyday.
Chandan Sharma, convener of the four workers� unions of the GMC � the Guwahati Municipal Workers� Union, Municipal Engineers� Association, Harijan Majdoor Union and the Water Supply Workers� Union � said, �When people are spending their time with their family members or are working from home, these municipality workers are risking their lives for the welfare of general public. There are 1,440 daily wage labourers, fixed and contractual employees working under GMC. It will lead to a public health catastrophe if they stop working even for a couple of days.�
However, most of the time, they are being neglected.
�In the current scenario, they are at high risk due to the disposal of infectious articles. They are looking at the government to improve their situation and regularise their jobs and hike their salaries immediately. The State government should also include them in insurance coverage policy,� Sharma added.
He further said, �Some of the workers working in the interior parts of the city do not have even a self-protection equipment.�
Sharma added that the workers have, for years, been vehemently demanding regularisation of their jobs and a hike in their salaries, but their demands have not been fulfilled yet.
