Amir Iqbal Khan
Bhadarwah, June 17: Turning up the heat on the crucial issue, the All India Peoples Welfare Society, a prominent non-governmental organisation, on Wednesday extended its full support to the ongoing month-long strike of Safai Karamcharies protesting against the "callous attitude" of the higher authorities over their long-pending demands for regularisation and wage enhancement. Led by its State President Zaffar Hussain Wani along with senior functionaries Hissam-Ud-Din, Umar Farooq Tak and Mohd Salim Butt, the NGO members joined the protesting sanitation workers at their dharna site in front of the Bhadarwah Municipality Office at the Old Bus Stand here.
Expressing solidarity with the agitators, Wani expressed dismay over the inaction by National Conference government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as well as the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration stating that despite numerous dharnas, the genuine demands of these essential workers have continuously fallen on deaf ears, pushing their families to the brink of starvation due to the non-payment of even their meagre monthly salaries.
"These Safai Karamcharies are the real heroes and frontline warriors of our society who defy life-threatening conditions daily to keep our towns, cities and habitations clean and habitable," Wani said while addressing the gathering. He drew attention to the administrative apathy pointing out that instead of being encouraged and rewarded for their indispensable role, the morale of these workers has been severely dampened. The ongoing strike has taken a heavy toll on the scenic Bhadarwah town which has virtually transformed into a massive garbage dump over the last several days. A foul, stinging smell emanating from the accumulated garbage and faecal matter has disrupted regular life for the common citizen, raising serious concerns and apprehensions among the local population regarding a major epidemic outbreak if the impasse continues due to the inaction of the higher authorities.
Urging immediate intervention, the NGO issued a strong appeal to the concerned department, the popular NC government under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the LG administration to immediately mitigate the grievances of the Safai Karamcharies across the entire Union Territory. The functionaries demanded that the government take the issue seriously to prevent a public health crisis and resolve the deadlock by ensuring the immediate release of pending salaries, enhancement of daily wages and a clear roadmap for their regularisation. "It is shocking that the very people who protect our health are being ignored by the system and we will continue to stand by them until their righteous demands are fully met," the NGO leaders added.
