Mumbai: Several factors triggered flash strike by conservancy workers

There are more than one reasons that triggered the flash strike on Friday by 4,000 conservancy workers. They range from all-exclusive contracts going to a single contractor for collection, transportation and disposal in three wards, to the number of vehicles carrying garbage coming down.

Milind Ranade, general secretary of the Kachra Vahatuk Shramik Sangh (KVSS) said that they are opposing Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) move to give contracts to a single entity for collection, transportation and disposal in three wards namely R Central (Borivali), R South (Kandivali) and R North (Dahisar). In these places, private contractors are to use their vehicles, labourers and garbage bins for collection and disposal of garbage.

However, this step did not go well with BMC's own conservancy workers as they claim that they would lose their jobs. Around 376 motor loaders were involved in collecting garbage in these three wards. After these tasks went to the private contractor, they are being asked to collect waste from houses -- a job, that according to them, is of a labourer.

Ranade said that apart from 376 permanent workers, there are 500 contract workers in these three wards.

Conservancy workers alleged that their work load has also been increased after the number of vehicles carrying garbage was decreased.