Non-payment of wages: Garbage accumulates on Pampore roads as sanitation workers are on strike

Pampore, Sep 14: Heaps of garbage were seen on the roads in saffron town Pampore of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district as the daily wage sanitation workers of Pampore Municipal Committee (PMC) are on strike from past four days.

The workers, who even staged a protest against incumbent Executive Officer outside the MC office neither went for door-to-door garbage collection nor did they sweep the roads on Monday. Hence, garbage produced daily in the town remained on roads and lanes.

The protesting sanitation workers told news agency KNT that they are without wages from past 4 months while despite repeated requests, the Executive Officer Shakeel Ahmed doesn’t release their wages.

“Whenever, we raise the issue with the Executive Officer, he instead of listening ‘scolds’ and ‘humiliates’ us. We don’t know what to do. Strike was the only option for us,” they said.

Executive Officer, Shakeel Ahmed said sanitation workers are being properly paid. “They haven’t received the wages for the month of August due to deficit because of the lock down. I have sought financial assistance from the Director Local Bodies. Wages will be paid to these workers,” he said. (KNT)