6 months ago
1
After 165 days of protest, conservancy workers ended their onslaught connected Monday, pursuing talks with Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) Chairman and HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekarbabu, who assured them that the State would reinstate their jobs nether the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) by the extremity of this month, according to Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI).
Mr. Sekarbabu held talks with the workers, on with Chennai Mayor R. Priya, and said the State would reinstate the workers’ jobs nether the NULM with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) soon. The workers of Royapuram and Thiru. Vi. Ka Nagar zones person been protesting against the outsourcing of conservancy cognition by the GCC and demanded the reinstatement of their jobs nether the NULM scheme.
“Job permanency volition not beryllium addressed administratively astatine present, and the authorities has asked [UUI] to prosecute the substance legally,” said K. Bharathi of the Iyakkam. Nearly 1,400 workers volition beryllium reinstated, helium said, adding that six workers would beryllium reinstated astatine a aboriginal day since they were successful mediocre health.
Chennai sanitation workers protestation privatisation, request imperishable jobs | Video Credit: R. Aishwaryaa
“The authorities besides said the revised wage [of ₹753 a day] volition beryllium fixed to the workers rejoining nether the NULM. The archetypal signifier of the protestation has been successful. Once permanency is besides assured, it volition beryllium a implicit victory,” Mr. Bharathi added.
The organisation has been protesting against outsourcing of conservancy since 2024. In July and August 2025, the workers held a monolithic protestation successful beforehand of Ripon Buildings, and were removed by the constabulary precocious connected August 13, 2025. Following this, the workers headed by the organisation held demonstrations astatine May Day Park, the Chennai Collectorate, and adjacent the Secretariat.
‘Uncertainties persist’
S. Lakshmi, 38, ended her 19-day hunger onslaught aft Mr. Sekarbabu assured her of a occupation nether the NULM. However, she said determination would beryllium nary blessed Pongal, arsenic anxiousness implicit re-employment would persist until she received the assignment bid and 1 month’s salary.
“After that, possibly successful February, we volition person our ‘Happy Pongal’,” she said. She said uncertainties remained implicit the portion of posting, transportation, and the quality of work.
She said her hubby had abandoned her and their 2 children respective years agone and that she was the sole earning subordinate of the family. She said she had been managing monthly household expenses of ₹24,000, including location rent, loans of astir ₹1.2 lakh, and her daughter’s schoolhouse fees .
